Our sweet grandma, Amy Titus, has faced more than her share of health battles. After courageously beating both Hodgkin Lymphoma and lung cancer, she is now confronting her most difficult fight yet: a recurrent lymphoma that requires an urgent stem cell transplant to give her the best chance at long-term survival.
Her medical journey has been long and exhausting—filled with scans, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and complications. Most recently, she completed months of salvage chemotherapy to prepare her body for this next critical step: the stem cell transplant.
But the hardest part—physically, emotionally, and financially—is just beginning.
My mom, Polly Stimlinger, has been Grandma’s full-time caregiver and advocate through every step. Because Grandma is disabled, my mom has used New York State Paid Family Leave for several years to be by her side. While this allows her time off work, it comes at a significantly reduced rate of pay. On top of that, we live over an hour and a half away from the hospital where Grandma receives treatment, so my mom covers gas, parking, and meals at each and every visit—expenses that quickly add up.
The biggest financial challenge is still ahead: the stem cell transplant itself. This process includes 9 consecutive days of hospital visits leading up to the transplant, a 7-day hospital stay, and then mandatory housing within 60 minutes of the hospital for at least 14 days, but potentially up to 28. Even with the hospital’s discounted rates, lodging alone will cost a minimum of $2,000, not including food, gas, or daily essentials.
And while finances are difficult, the caregiver responsibilities are equally demanding. During the transplant recovery period, my mom must be available 24/7. As part of the transplant program’s strict guidelines, caregivers are required to:
Stay in approved housing near the hospital
Monitor vital signs twice daily
Ensure all medications are taken accurately and on time
Provide daily transportation and accompany every visit
Prepare healthy meals and maintain a clean, safe, infection-free environment
Offer constant emotional and physical support
She will need to take at least 8 weeks off from work to meet these requirements. This level of care is critical to Grandma’s recovery, but it’s too much—emotionally and financially—for one person to handle alone.
We are reaching out for help. Every donation—no matter how small—will go toward:
Transportation, parking, and meals during treatment
Lodging near the hospital during transplant recovery
Post-transplant care and supplies
Helping my mom take unpaid leave to care for Grandma
Both my mom and my grandma have spent their lives giving—to their family, their friends, and anyone in need. Now, we’re asking for a little help in return. Your support will ease this enormous burden and help give my grandma the best possible chance at healing and recovery.
Please consider donating or sharing this page. Your kindness means more to us than words can express.
With love and gratitude,
Kelsey Gardner & Family