Help Bryan Battle Multiple Myeloma
Donation protected
Bryan's Diagnosis
Our dad and husband, Bryan, was diagnosed with aggressive, high-risk multiple myeloma in April 2016. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow, in which cancer cells accumulate and crowd out healthy blood cells. Multiple myeloma is currently incurable, but it is treatable for varying amounts of time. With additional treatment we are hoping Bryan will move into remission once again, which will hopefully extend his life for at least several, if not many years to come. Through research, treatment options are increasing very rapidly in the field of multiple myeloma. New immunotherapy treatments are in the works now, and it is our optimistic expectation that if Bryan can live another couple years, the treatment options will have greatly expanded.
About Bryan
Bryan is the most wonderful, loving father and husband a family could ask for. Betsy and Bryan will celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary on August 24th, and have enjoyed a blessed and happy life together. Brooke entered the pictured 29 years ago, and has been so lucky to have Bryan as a father, friend, and role-model. Bryan is a family-man who loves to fish, hike, read, and collect all sorts of, as he calls them, "useless facts"! Bryan has an incredibly huge heart, and great compassion for all humans and animals. He is fair, loyal, and has a great appreciation for the world around him.
Treatment
Bryan was originally being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, but at the end of 2016 the Mayo Clinic was eliminated from any insurance plans Betsy and Bryan were eligible to enroll in. Bryan is now being treated at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. Bryan had induction chemotherapy from May through September of 2016. In October of 2016 Bryan underwent an autologous stem cell transplant, which used his own harvested stem cells. The transplant was a success and put Bryan into remission for about one year. Several months after his transplant, Bryan was able to go back to work, despite weekly maintenance chemotherapy. However, Bryan relapsed in October 2017 and was started on intensive inpatient chemotherapy immediately. In April 2017 Bryan received a bone marrow transplant, with Brooke as his donor. Since transplant he has had a rough go of it, with multiple complications and hospitalizations. However, his counts are good and engraftment is taking place. And we are hopeful this will keep on keepin' on!!
Why We're Asking for Your Support
Bryan was self-employed as an IT contractor in project management, and as such, has no job security, employer health insurance, nor eligibility for either unemployment or FMLA. Bryan continued to work as best he could throughout his inpatient chemo in the fall of 2017, but had to stop working due to extensive hospital stays during the winter of 2017/2018. Betsy continues to work, though her income goes exclusively to paying Bryan's medical bills and health insurance..
Bryan is a very proud and independent person, and asking for help is difficult. However, given the emotional and financial burden, we are in need of any assistance available. We ask for and welcome any and all positive thoughts, support, love, and prayers. Additionally, if you are in a position to do so, we would be very grateful for any amount of financial support you can offer.
Additional Resources
-- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: https://www.themmrf.org/
-- International Myeloma Foundation: http://myeloma.org/Main.action
-- Be the Match (Brooke is on the registry and can vouch that it is not that horrible of a process for the donor, and well worth it if you may be able to save someone's life!): https://bethematch.org
Our dad and husband, Bryan, was diagnosed with aggressive, high-risk multiple myeloma in April 2016. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow, in which cancer cells accumulate and crowd out healthy blood cells. Multiple myeloma is currently incurable, but it is treatable for varying amounts of time. With additional treatment we are hoping Bryan will move into remission once again, which will hopefully extend his life for at least several, if not many years to come. Through research, treatment options are increasing very rapidly in the field of multiple myeloma. New immunotherapy treatments are in the works now, and it is our optimistic expectation that if Bryan can live another couple years, the treatment options will have greatly expanded.
About Bryan
Bryan is the most wonderful, loving father and husband a family could ask for. Betsy and Bryan will celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary on August 24th, and have enjoyed a blessed and happy life together. Brooke entered the pictured 29 years ago, and has been so lucky to have Bryan as a father, friend, and role-model. Bryan is a family-man who loves to fish, hike, read, and collect all sorts of, as he calls them, "useless facts"! Bryan has an incredibly huge heart, and great compassion for all humans and animals. He is fair, loyal, and has a great appreciation for the world around him.
Treatment
Bryan was originally being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, but at the end of 2016 the Mayo Clinic was eliminated from any insurance plans Betsy and Bryan were eligible to enroll in. Bryan is now being treated at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. Bryan had induction chemotherapy from May through September of 2016. In October of 2016 Bryan underwent an autologous stem cell transplant, which used his own harvested stem cells. The transplant was a success and put Bryan into remission for about one year. Several months after his transplant, Bryan was able to go back to work, despite weekly maintenance chemotherapy. However, Bryan relapsed in October 2017 and was started on intensive inpatient chemotherapy immediately. In April 2017 Bryan received a bone marrow transplant, with Brooke as his donor. Since transplant he has had a rough go of it, with multiple complications and hospitalizations. However, his counts are good and engraftment is taking place. And we are hopeful this will keep on keepin' on!!
Why We're Asking for Your Support
Bryan was self-employed as an IT contractor in project management, and as such, has no job security, employer health insurance, nor eligibility for either unemployment or FMLA. Bryan continued to work as best he could throughout his inpatient chemo in the fall of 2017, but had to stop working due to extensive hospital stays during the winter of 2017/2018. Betsy continues to work, though her income goes exclusively to paying Bryan's medical bills and health insurance..
Bryan is a very proud and independent person, and asking for help is difficult. However, given the emotional and financial burden, we are in need of any assistance available. We ask for and welcome any and all positive thoughts, support, love, and prayers. Additionally, if you are in a position to do so, we would be very grateful for any amount of financial support you can offer.
Additional Resources
-- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: https://www.themmrf.org/
-- International Myeloma Foundation: http://myeloma.org/Main.action
-- Be the Match (Brooke is on the registry and can vouch that it is not that horrible of a process for the donor, and well worth it if you may be able to save someone's life!): https://bethematch.org
Organizer and beneficiary
Brooke Taylor
Organizer
Savage, MN
Lizabeth Taylor
Beneficiary
