Mimi's Fierce Fight Against Cancer
Donation protected
Two months ago, Mimi Gasparyan was celebrating her 23rd birthday. Two days ago, Mimi was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).
ALL is a cancer that starts from the early version of white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow. The term “acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal within a few months. Fortunately for Mimi, the cancer was detected within a few weeks of her feeling symptoms like extreme fatigue, leg cramps, loss of appetite and overall weakness. She was admitted into the hospital under the impression that she is anemic, and after a painful process of extracing blood cells from her bone marrow, the doctors at UCLA Research Center came back with different results. Mimi woke up with a confirmation of what she [being the smart nursing student that she is] knew was the case - she had cancer.
Like any cancer, the process is long, tiring, painful, emotional, scary, crazy, overwhelming, exhausting, unpredictable, shocking and a number of other things no one can prepare themselves for. And cancer is also very, very expensive. Mimi will be at the UCLA Research Center for a month, receiving a number of expensive drugs and procedures, including chemotherapy (she was a total trooper through her first session – the most painful one. Go Mimi!) The best thing we can hope for is that she goes into remission and never comes out. But if she does come out, she is going to need a stem cell transplant (from her little hero brother Dylan). We pray that's not the outcome, but we also want to be prepared for the worst – mentally, physically, spiritually, and of course financially. Anyone can imagine the suffering of two parents not being able to take their child's pain and troubles away, not being able to trade places for the sake of their child's well-being, and not being able to predict what's coming next. But they are strong and remain positive, hopeful, supportive, and right by Mimi's bedside everyday. This also means not going into work for quite some time and unfortunately, you don't get a pass from your monthly bills, daily living expenses, or the medical bills to come after she beats(!) this awful disease. This is where we come in!
Cancer is not contagious, but our fighting spirit is.
Please join our family and friends in this battle for Mimi to overcome ALL. Whatever dollar amount you can contribute, be it $1 or $10, will greatly help the Gasparyan family through this difficult time. If you're unable to donate, we just as much appreciate you sharing this with your friends and social media followers, keeping Mimi in your prayers, sending positive vibes out into the universe, or simply wearing a bit more orange today – it all counts.
Our wonderful friends and supporters at Polkatots Cupcakes are helping us thank our generous contributors. Through the rewards program, any $100 donations will receive one (1) free cupcake from the Pasadena-based bakery – redeemable at any time. Any contributions of $200 and over, you'll receive a box of six (6) mini cupcakes of your choice. I will contact each PolkaFriend and PolkaHero with instructions on how to redeem.
We thank each and every single one of you for donating, sharing, praying, thinking, hoping.. or simply reading this, and reading Mimi's story. Please be sure to return to this page for updates on Mimi's progress. We are hopeful, we are strong, and we will continue this fight against ALL - all together. #mimioverALL
"And though she be but little, she is fierce." -Shakespeare
Thank you,
Sasha Baranova, Karina Kovsky & the entire army of Mimi's soldiers!
ALL is a cancer that starts from the early version of white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow. The term “acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal within a few months. Fortunately for Mimi, the cancer was detected within a few weeks of her feeling symptoms like extreme fatigue, leg cramps, loss of appetite and overall weakness. She was admitted into the hospital under the impression that she is anemic, and after a painful process of extracing blood cells from her bone marrow, the doctors at UCLA Research Center came back with different results. Mimi woke up with a confirmation of what she [being the smart nursing student that she is] knew was the case - she had cancer.
Like any cancer, the process is long, tiring, painful, emotional, scary, crazy, overwhelming, exhausting, unpredictable, shocking and a number of other things no one can prepare themselves for. And cancer is also very, very expensive. Mimi will be at the UCLA Research Center for a month, receiving a number of expensive drugs and procedures, including chemotherapy (she was a total trooper through her first session – the most painful one. Go Mimi!) The best thing we can hope for is that she goes into remission and never comes out. But if she does come out, she is going to need a stem cell transplant (from her little hero brother Dylan). We pray that's not the outcome, but we also want to be prepared for the worst – mentally, physically, spiritually, and of course financially. Anyone can imagine the suffering of two parents not being able to take their child's pain and troubles away, not being able to trade places for the sake of their child's well-being, and not being able to predict what's coming next. But they are strong and remain positive, hopeful, supportive, and right by Mimi's bedside everyday. This also means not going into work for quite some time and unfortunately, you don't get a pass from your monthly bills, daily living expenses, or the medical bills to come after she beats(!) this awful disease. This is where we come in!
Cancer is not contagious, but our fighting spirit is.
Please join our family and friends in this battle for Mimi to overcome ALL. Whatever dollar amount you can contribute, be it $1 or $10, will greatly help the Gasparyan family through this difficult time. If you're unable to donate, we just as much appreciate you sharing this with your friends and social media followers, keeping Mimi in your prayers, sending positive vibes out into the universe, or simply wearing a bit more orange today – it all counts.
Our wonderful friends and supporters at Polkatots Cupcakes are helping us thank our generous contributors. Through the rewards program, any $100 donations will receive one (1) free cupcake from the Pasadena-based bakery – redeemable at any time. Any contributions of $200 and over, you'll receive a box of six (6) mini cupcakes of your choice. I will contact each PolkaFriend and PolkaHero with instructions on how to redeem.
We thank each and every single one of you for donating, sharing, praying, thinking, hoping.. or simply reading this, and reading Mimi's story. Please be sure to return to this page for updates on Mimi's progress. We are hopeful, we are strong, and we will continue this fight against ALL - all together. #mimioverALL
"And though she be but little, she is fierce." -Shakespeare
Thank you,
Sasha Baranova, Karina Kovsky & the entire army of Mimi's soldiers!
Organizer and beneficiary
Aleksandra Sasha Bar
Organizer
Encino, CA
Rimma Gasparyan
Beneficiary
