Marians Fight

For those of you who haven't met Marian and Peter, here's a little background. Marian and Peter came to the U.S. from Egypt a little over 5 years ago, with the hopes of furthering the opportunities that could be available to them. Since arriving here, they've both worked so hard to set their lives up, find jobs and start a family. About five years ago, their beautiful daughter, Julianna was born.


However, over the past 10 months, they've seen struggles that a young couple should never have to experience. Marian was diagnosed with  
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphocytic leukemia or acute lymphoid leukemia,  which is a fast-growing cancer of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Normal lymphocytes help your body fight infections. In ALL, the lymphocytes are cancerous and don't fight infections very well. These cancerous cells (or leukemic blasts) grow quickly and crowd out the bone marrow, preventing it from making the normal red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets that your body needs.

About 6,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with ALL each year. It is the most common type of leukemia in children under age 15. However, it can affect people of any age, and Marian was diagnosed at the age of 28.

 Since then, their lives have been a whirlwind.  We will never forget the day she was diagnosed - we were all at a loss, and couldn't understand how a young, vibrant mother would be forced to have to fight for her life at such a young age.

Since this diagnosis, Marian and Peter have had a very difficult journey battling her cancer. Despite this, they have never once waivered in their faith. However, there are some real consideratons that they have had to face. Of course Marian has been unable to work while undergoing treatment, which is difficult enough. But what's been even more difficult is that Peter has recently been forced to take a leave of absense from his job as well in order to support Marian during a particularly dangerous period of time, in which Marian was given a bone marrow transplant. On top of all this, he's had to make sure Julianna has had some sense of normalcy.
Unfortunately the past few months have been extremely challenging to say the least. Marian has suffered countless set backs and has been paralyzed secondary to the effects of her Chemotherapy.   While she is recieving her care at Memorial Sloan Kettering for her Leukemia, they are now hoping to get treatments at Kessler rehabilitation center for the treatment of her paralysis. However Kessler does not accept her insurance, but despite her challenges Marian has the resillence to continue her fight as she is desperate to watch her daughter grow.

Its been a long road for them, and with both Peter and Marian being out of work, normal living expenses, and ongoing medical expenses adding up, things haven't been easy. They have remained faithful, strong, and resilient. We know God will help them through this, but if you could please help support this amazing family in any way, it would go a long way in giving them some well-deserved peace of mind through this ordeal.