Laura’s Medical and Travel Bills For Leukemia
Donation protected
Dear Readers,
Laura is a 34 year old woman who is the epitome of light and radiance and love. She is creative, talented, intelligent, and so much more than words can describe. She has won the battle against cancer twice in her lifetime already. She is also my "bosom friend and kindred spirit" as Anne of Green Gables would say.
Laura had been in remission for just a few years of respite. On June 14, 2021 we learned that her ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) has relapsed, returning for a third time, invading her spine and precious bone marrow.
Laura has been unable to ignore an increasingly noticeable loss of strength and mobility in her left leg, which became noticeably worse in recent months. It didn’t take long for our worst fears to come to fruition. Laura’s leukemia has returned. She had relapsed a second time.
Having faced this prior we are now more aware of the mountain ahead of us, which is more daunting in many ways than stumbling blindly through the process. Laura is started treatment June 16, 2021, receiving immunotherapy and chemo via a PICC line and chemotherapy into her spinal fluid via a lumbar puncture as the Leukemia is in her spine and bone marrow. Even through this all, Seth informed me that Laura is still the light, love, and grace that has always defined her. She still is asking the nurses what she can do to help them rather than asking for anything for herself.
This time instead of a bone marrow transplant Laura will receive a newly approved therapy called CAR-T cell therapy, which, if all goes well, should train her own T-cells to eat the leukemia. This is no simple or easy feat physically, emotionally, or financially.
Laura will need to remain within 2 hours of the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston for at least a month after she is released. Since home is about 6 hours away from Boston this means it could be a few months of lodging near Boston which is an expensive thing on it's own. On top of that is the consideration that she is once again unable to work in order to use all of her energies to fight this battle and her schedule will be filled with appointments.
In addition, Laura’s loving husband Seth, will also once again be by her side in order to help care for her, drive her, and help her keep her light shining through the unknown. Seth will be missing at least a month of work as a nurse in order to stay by Laura’s side through it all. Caretakers need care too and Seth is no exception. Seth was on the front-lines of the hospital all through the pandemic in 2020, a true hero putting his health at risk in order to save strangers lives.
Now he needs our help.
Please help him save Laura’s life by allowing him the temporary time off without pay in order to hold Laura’s hand through this. No amount is too little, no light is too small. Please share and forward this plea to help this loving couple be together through one of the most trying situations a love can endure.
Medical costs and travel costs are already piling up, with many more coming. We don’t know how much the CAR-T Cell therapy treatment will cost, how much insurance will cover, it’s just too early. It could be our starting goal, it could be $200,000. It could be anything.
We will raise the goal as needed as we find out more. Any amount donated will be helpful as we continue this journey. Become a part of #LaurasAngelMafia
Laura and Seth express their sincere love and thanks to anyone who has taken a moment to send prayers, love and light. Please continue as they need all of the community and love behind them that we can muster.
From a dear friend,
Elissah
P.S. Below find a link to Laura’s blog which follows this process through her eyes. She is having difficulty writing because of the progressing neuropathy in her hands, but her prior journey is documented there as well and she will update whenever she is able.
Of Pieridae & Perras
P.P.S For more information on CAR-T Cell therapy CAR T Cell Video Link
P.P.P.S. The last time Seth created and managed the Go Fund Me fundraiser, this time I offered my assistance as a friend in order to alleviate some additional time and stress from Seth’s shoulders and allow him to direct his energies to Laura instead. This fundraiser is directed and approved by Seth and all donated funds will go directly to them. As the financial need is greater this time we will attempt a 2-pronged approach in order to try to reach as many angels as possible. You may see that there are fundraisers for Seth and Laura on both facebook and gofundme. Do not be alarmed. If you see any fundraisers that raise your suspicion please alert Seth immediately.
Laura is a 34 year old woman who is the epitome of light and radiance and love. She is creative, talented, intelligent, and so much more than words can describe. She has won the battle against cancer twice in her lifetime already. She is also my "bosom friend and kindred spirit" as Anne of Green Gables would say.
Laura had been in remission for just a few years of respite. On June 14, 2021 we learned that her ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) has relapsed, returning for a third time, invading her spine and precious bone marrow.
Laura has been unable to ignore an increasingly noticeable loss of strength and mobility in her left leg, which became noticeably worse in recent months. It didn’t take long for our worst fears to come to fruition. Laura’s leukemia has returned. She had relapsed a second time.
Having faced this prior we are now more aware of the mountain ahead of us, which is more daunting in many ways than stumbling blindly through the process. Laura is started treatment June 16, 2021, receiving immunotherapy and chemo via a PICC line and chemotherapy into her spinal fluid via a lumbar puncture as the Leukemia is in her spine and bone marrow. Even through this all, Seth informed me that Laura is still the light, love, and grace that has always defined her. She still is asking the nurses what she can do to help them rather than asking for anything for herself.
This time instead of a bone marrow transplant Laura will receive a newly approved therapy called CAR-T cell therapy, which, if all goes well, should train her own T-cells to eat the leukemia. This is no simple or easy feat physically, emotionally, or financially.
Laura will need to remain within 2 hours of the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston for at least a month after she is released. Since home is about 6 hours away from Boston this means it could be a few months of lodging near Boston which is an expensive thing on it's own. On top of that is the consideration that she is once again unable to work in order to use all of her energies to fight this battle and her schedule will be filled with appointments.
In addition, Laura’s loving husband Seth, will also once again be by her side in order to help care for her, drive her, and help her keep her light shining through the unknown. Seth will be missing at least a month of work as a nurse in order to stay by Laura’s side through it all. Caretakers need care too and Seth is no exception. Seth was on the front-lines of the hospital all through the pandemic in 2020, a true hero putting his health at risk in order to save strangers lives.
Now he needs our help.
Please help him save Laura’s life by allowing him the temporary time off without pay in order to hold Laura’s hand through this. No amount is too little, no light is too small. Please share and forward this plea to help this loving couple be together through one of the most trying situations a love can endure.
Medical costs and travel costs are already piling up, with many more coming. We don’t know how much the CAR-T Cell therapy treatment will cost, how much insurance will cover, it’s just too early. It could be our starting goal, it could be $200,000. It could be anything.
We will raise the goal as needed as we find out more. Any amount donated will be helpful as we continue this journey. Become a part of #LaurasAngelMafia
Laura and Seth express their sincere love and thanks to anyone who has taken a moment to send prayers, love and light. Please continue as they need all of the community and love behind them that we can muster.
From a dear friend,
Elissah
P.S. Below find a link to Laura’s blog which follows this process through her eyes. She is having difficulty writing because of the progressing neuropathy in her hands, but her prior journey is documented there as well and she will update whenever she is able.
Of Pieridae & Perras
P.P.S For more information on CAR-T Cell therapy CAR T Cell Video Link
P.P.P.S. The last time Seth created and managed the Go Fund Me fundraiser, this time I offered my assistance as a friend in order to alleviate some additional time and stress from Seth’s shoulders and allow him to direct his energies to Laura instead. This fundraiser is directed and approved by Seth and all donated funds will go directly to them. As the financial need is greater this time we will attempt a 2-pronged approach in order to try to reach as many angels as possible. You may see that there are fundraisers for Seth and Laura on both facebook and gofundme. Do not be alarmed. If you see any fundraisers that raise your suspicion please alert Seth immediately.
Organizer and beneficiary
Elissah McCann Palma
Organizer
Summerville, SC
Seth Connor
Beneficiary
