Lifeline Project Profiles: Terri, Todd, and Cesar
Meet Terri, Todd, and Cesar. They are all parents and they are the latest Lifeline Project participants to be profiled in our ongoing series highlighting the needs of transplant patients.
Terri
Terri
Terri, a single mother of two sons, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009. Since her diagnosis, she has endured a steady routine of doctor visits, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, medicine for bone strengthening, and an autologous stem cell transplant. This treatment routine has prevented Terri from being able to work, and without a job, she hasn’t been able to acquire proper health insurance. In addition to her long and challenging recovery, she is in need of financial help with medical and living expenses.
Todd
Todd
Todd, a police sergeant for nearly 25 years, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in December of 2010. He underwent aggressive chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant. His wife and daughter traveled with him to the transplant center, while their two sons take care of the family home. The family needs assistance with gas, co-pays, and other living expenses.
Cesar
Cesar
Cesar, a single parent with two children, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2008. Since that time he has undergone chemotherapy and is about to receive a bone marrow transplant. As a result of his lengthy treatment process, he lost his job, so it has been difficult to cover all of his medical and living expenses. Any funding would help Cesar get back on his feet and return to work once he has finished treatment.
To help these or any of the Lifeline Project participants, click here.
Inspiration for Today: Laughter
In the next stages of his battle with brain cancer, Miles Austrevich will undergo an autologous stem cell transplant and then spend multiple months in isolation as he recovers. His dad is collecting jokes from friends, family, doctors, celebrities, and complete strangers in an attempt to make Miles’ isolation a little more cheerful.
Learning to let people in
David
David Alston was initially diagnosed with testicular cancer in March of 2011. He was treated with chemotherapy and went into remission, but unfortunately, a few months later, he relapsed. Now he is fighting cancer a second time.
David and his doctors feel his best chance at a cure is a triple-tandem autologous transplant, which will be the first performed at UNC Hospitals. The process involves harvesting and freezing his own stem cells, receiving high-dose chemotherapy to attack the cancer, then having the stem cells infused over three back-to-back hospitalizations. David feels that he is in the hands of an excellent team of professionals, but his illness and treatment have caused a financial hardship.
This challenging process has left David with many insights and he has learned some great lessons, including letting people in and sharing his experience. To learn more about David, click here and watch the video below.
From UNC Health Care
