Frank's Leukemia cancer Treatments
Donation protected
In 2001, Frank Ybarra met Tanya Arriaga at a house party in college. They went on a few dates, but things ended up fizzling out. Okay, so, Frank ended up sort of ditching Tanya. Admittedly, not the greatest move on his part. For the next fourteen years, they made a few attempts to meet, but could never find a good time. But in June of 2014, they found themselves in New York by chance. That afternoon in New York changed both of their lives irrevocably.
Fast forward, and we see a happenstance meet-cute blossom into a meaningful relationship. After almost 5 years together, Frank decided that it was time to propose. Tanya has lived her life with Usher’s Syndrome, a degenerative illness that affects her sight and hearing. She is deaf, with two percent of her field of vision in one eye, and three percent in the other. With her vision degenerating rapidly, Frank decided to take her and invite her family to Thailand and Japan to propose to her. He wanted to make sure she saw places she’d always dreamt of going, and that she had a chance to see her family grow, to have children, before her vision got worse.
While they were in Thailand, Frank caught a cold. It seemed like a normal head cold at first, but as it worsened, he knew that something wasn’t right. He had caught a local flu, and the flu had triggered dormant Leukemia cells in his blood. When they returned, he was diagnosed with Positive Philadelphia Like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Since Frank’s diagnosis with Leukemia, Tanya has stepped up to become the primary caretaker for both of them. In addition to her full time job as an acro-yoga instructor, Tanya is an avid philanthropist, giving back to the deaf-blind community in any way she can. She provides nursing care at home for Frank by flushing his PICC lines, changing his PICC dressings, to managing a constantly rotating array of over 20 medications.
They’re doing the best they can to make it work. However, Frank is only a few months into his chemo treatment. His clinical trial will last for two years, and he will have to have a bone marrow transplant. In addition, he has to spend at least a week in the hospital each month. He also spends two weeks per month going back and forth from the hospital for outpatient chemotherapy, and for giving and receiving blood. They’re facing costs upwards of five hundred thousand dollars for the bone marrow transplant alone, not including hospital stays, medication, and normal day to day expenses.
Nobody plans for something like this. Frank and Tanya planned for a beautiful engagement. They planned for a home full of children, light, and laughter. Frank’s diagnosis has hit them hard. And yet still, they both push onward with love, care, and hope. Tanya leads a robust life teaching yoga, and advocating for people living with disabilities. Frank co-owns photography studio Superb Studios, and film processing center Cactus Film Lab, providing affordable spaces for artists in Houston. They’ve given so much to each other, and their community. They still have so much to do.
Frank’s short term disability is almost up, after which he will receive little to no financial compensation from his job. This is where you come in. When one of us is down, it is our respective duty as fellow humans to lift each other up. Even the smallest donation makes an incredible impact. We have strength in numbers. Even if you cannot donate, sharing this campaign, and spreading the word is an act of aid and care. Frank and Tanya will update you all as they progress on their journey through Frank’s treatment, and through their life together. Thank you for reading, and for being here. Thank you for giving.
Fast forward, and we see a happenstance meet-cute blossom into a meaningful relationship. After almost 5 years together, Frank decided that it was time to propose. Tanya has lived her life with Usher’s Syndrome, a degenerative illness that affects her sight and hearing. She is deaf, with two percent of her field of vision in one eye, and three percent in the other. With her vision degenerating rapidly, Frank decided to take her and invite her family to Thailand and Japan to propose to her. He wanted to make sure she saw places she’d always dreamt of going, and that she had a chance to see her family grow, to have children, before her vision got worse.
While they were in Thailand, Frank caught a cold. It seemed like a normal head cold at first, but as it worsened, he knew that something wasn’t right. He had caught a local flu, and the flu had triggered dormant Leukemia cells in his blood. When they returned, he was diagnosed with Positive Philadelphia Like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Since Frank’s diagnosis with Leukemia, Tanya has stepped up to become the primary caretaker for both of them. In addition to her full time job as an acro-yoga instructor, Tanya is an avid philanthropist, giving back to the deaf-blind community in any way she can. She provides nursing care at home for Frank by flushing his PICC lines, changing his PICC dressings, to managing a constantly rotating array of over 20 medications.
They’re doing the best they can to make it work. However, Frank is only a few months into his chemo treatment. His clinical trial will last for two years, and he will have to have a bone marrow transplant. In addition, he has to spend at least a week in the hospital each month. He also spends two weeks per month going back and forth from the hospital for outpatient chemotherapy, and for giving and receiving blood. They’re facing costs upwards of five hundred thousand dollars for the bone marrow transplant alone, not including hospital stays, medication, and normal day to day expenses.
Nobody plans for something like this. Frank and Tanya planned for a beautiful engagement. They planned for a home full of children, light, and laughter. Frank’s diagnosis has hit them hard. And yet still, they both push onward with love, care, and hope. Tanya leads a robust life teaching yoga, and advocating for people living with disabilities. Frank co-owns photography studio Superb Studios, and film processing center Cactus Film Lab, providing affordable spaces for artists in Houston. They’ve given so much to each other, and their community. They still have so much to do.
Frank’s short term disability is almost up, after which he will receive little to no financial compensation from his job. This is where you come in. When one of us is down, it is our respective duty as fellow humans to lift each other up. Even the smallest donation makes an incredible impact. We have strength in numbers. Even if you cannot donate, sharing this campaign, and spreading the word is an act of aid and care. Frank and Tanya will update you all as they progress on their journey through Frank’s treatment, and through their life together. Thank you for reading, and for being here. Thank you for giving.
Organizer
Frank Ybarra
Organizer
Bear Branch, TX
