Carolyn's Cancer Fight Fund

Our Mom, Carolyn, started having back pain in September 2015. She thought the pain's origin was from a minor car accident. After a series of doctor's appointments that took us into November, we were shocked to receive the news that Mom had cancer. Mama was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma a type of blood cancer. Unfortunately this type of cancer does not reveal itself symptomatically until it is rather advanced. Mom began a 3 tier treatment plan in December 2015. The UNC myeloma specialist told us she was in his top 5 of highest cancer proteins he had seen.  Mom has been going through treatment cycles of two types of chemo & steroid therapy. She is responding to this therapy and the next step in her treatment plan is a stem cell transplant. Up to this point Mom & Dad have been able to keep up with the costs of treatment with insurance & Mom's employment income. We have been encouraged by the UNC transplant team to raise funds for the significant out-of-pocket costs that lie ahead us as we head to Chapel Hill this summer.  One of the main reasons we are making this GoFundMe page is that Mama will be out of work for a  3 to 6 month period. Thankfully, Mom is 65 now and medicare should cover the cost of the transplant itself. However, her chemo cycle that she is presently taking has already put her in the "hole" with her medicare prescriptions for the year. This is just one example of an out-of-pocket cost as Mama will have to remain on a dosage of maintenance chemo even after her transplant. Some of the other out-of-pocket costs that we will face this summer are:
- Transportation & Parking
- Meal Costs (3 times a day)
-Lodging for 5-8 weeks
- Medications
There is going to be tons of back & forth due to the fact that Daddy has Parkinsons and therefore cannot be an approved caregiver for Mama. Because of this, Lauri, Rebekah, Mike or Tim will have to be there everyday. We have jobs & children to coordinate which will require a great deal of travel.  Pre-transplant appointments & tests begin the last week of May. Mobilization & harvesting of stem cells will take place over the first half of June and the transplant should be about a week after harvesting.  This timeline will have Mama in Chapel Hill into August.  I have been blessed to witness my parent's generosity for the past 36 years. What lies ahead for Mama & her health is going to be difficult, very difficult. It would be a tremendous blessing to alleviate some of the financial stress of this trial. It is our desire to care for her well during this season, to honor how she has always cared for us and others so well. We (Mama, Daddy, Lauri, Tim, Lee, Dawn, Rebekah & Mike) would be ever so thankful for any contribution made to this fund. Keep praying and we will keep fighting!