It’s a Marathon, not a Sprint
The Hubbell Family has a lot to be thankful for.
Katy with her parents Dave and Mary (Photo: Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette)
When 4-year-old Katy was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and lymphoma, her parents, Mary and Dave, were told that a bone marrow transplant was her only chance of long-term survival. Katy’s parents and her siblings were tested, but none were a match. Thankfully, a search of the National Marrow Donor Program’s registry revealed a match, and doctors successfully transplanted the donor’s healthy stem cells into Katy.
The Hubbells were physically separated during Katy’s treatment. While Mary stayed with her at the Houston hospital, Dave and the couple’s other two children remained at home in Illinois. Fortunately, Mary’s mother was able to temporarily leave her job and help provide childcare, which enabled Dave to keep his job and maintain the health insurance critical to paying for Katy’s treatment.
But, insurance doesn’t pay for everything. To help the Hubbells with expenses accumulated from Katy and Mary’s five month relocation, travel, co-pays, and medications, the family’s hometown rallied and raised $30,000.
This was all more than a decade ago. Now, Katy is a high school senior looking towards college. Mary and Dave know that their family has been lucky. They receive messages from families around the world in similar situations. They offer this advice: “Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and you have to take it one day at a time.”
Click here to read the full article about the Hubbell Family.
To learn more about expenses transplant patients and their families face and how to help, visit The Bone Marrow Foundation’s Lifeline Project by clicking here.
Lifeline Project Profiles: Chad, Marcel, and Miles
Meet Chad, Marcel, and Miles. They are the latest Lifeline Project participants to be profiled in our ongoing series highlighting the needs of transplant patients.
Chad
Chad
Chad had hopes of becoming a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, but in 2009 he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder that has sidelined his ability to train and fight. After over two years of various medications, blood transfusions, and hospital admissions, Chad finally received an unrelated donor stem cell transplant in April of 2011. He is now recovering with the hope of staying involved in MMA, but he needs financial support for post transplant expenses.
Marcel
Marcel
Marcel is a sweet and loving three-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He has undergone six cycles of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and is now receiving radiation therapy. Despite his disease, treatment, and prognosis, he has always been a strong little man with a great attitude and a huge desire to live. Unfortunately, his radiation treatments are adding extra emotional and financial stress on the family. Assistance with these expenses would greatly benefit the family.
Miles
Miles
Ten-year-old Miles was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in November of 2010 and underwent a bone marrow transplant this past April. Miles also needed to have surgery on his left eye in order to save his eyesight. Although he has endured so much he has still maintained his desire to laugh, crack jokes, and make funny faces. However, his lengthy hospitalization has caused a financial strain on his family and they could use some assistance with his medical expenses.
To help these or any of the Lifeline Project participants, click here.
Lifeline Project Profiles: Lee, Sandra, and Rileigh
Meet Lee, Sandra, and Rileigh. They are three Lifeline Project participants who need help coping with bone marrow transplant-related expenses.
Lee
Lee
Lee, a married father of three, was diagnosed with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in 2010. He has undergone six months of aggressive treatment, which included chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Lee had to give up his weekend construction work and was no longer able to take care of his youngest son during the week. Without his income and the additional expense of childcare, his family needs help affording his medical and donor expenses.
Sandra
Sandra
Sandra, a married mother of two, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2009. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy in order to go back into remission. Once in remission, Sandra can undergo a bone marrow transplant, which will be donated by her daughter. Given the lengthy treatment process, which is far from Sandra’s home, she has not been able to work at her job as a college professor since last year. She and her family need help with travel and donor related expenses.
Rileigh
Rileigh
Rileigh was diagnosed with immunosuppressive aplastic anemia in June 2010. Later, her blood count numbers crashed and it was discovered that she also has Fanconi’s anemia. The only way to treat the aplastic anemia associated with Fanconi’s anemia is with a bone marrow transplant. Rileigh underwent her transplant and her family relocated to be near the transplant center. They are currently maintaining two residences and unable to work, so any donations would be helpful.
To help these or any of the Lifeline Project participants, click here.
