I’m raising funds for my sister (Sandra), brother-in-law (Allen), and 2-year-old niece. Her husband/my brother-in-law, Allen, has recently been diagnosed with a bone marrow failure condition called severe aplastic anemia.
Allen was a very active and energetic 29-year-old and works so hard for his family to provide for them while being the most loving husband to my sister and the best father to their 2-year-old daughter. He is an awesome nurse who has worked so hard taking care of others in the ICU, PACU, and HVC floors in his career.
This all began as he contracted the flu earlier this year in January and had it pretty badly with 103 fevers, all while forcing himself to fly over to Germany to visit Sandra’s grandparents and family as they only get to see them once every few years. The trip ended up being a stressful one with an unfortunate and unexpected death in the family, as well as their daughter becoming sick on the trip as well. Upon returning home, not but a few weeks later, Allen was sick again and tested positive for flu, strep, and mononucleosis (“mono”) caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. We thought it was just a rough go-around and a series of unlucky sicknesses. 4-5 weeks went by, and Allen wasn’t getting past the fatigue, elevated heart rate even just by feeding the dogs or walking for a few minutes, easy bruising, petechiae all over his body, paleness, and even a little jaundiced skin and eyes. He was still working overtime during the last few weeks of him experiencing these symptoms, and as he went into work the following Monday that he had the worst of it, his floor’s NP took a look at him and suggested he go to the ER for the combination of symptoms he was experiencing. They admitted him immediately. His blood levels upon admission were: Hemoglobin 6.9 and Hematocrit 20. Platelets were 7, reticulocytes (new red blood cells) were almost non-existent.
Allen went through a ton of blood draws, blood and platelet transfusions, and a bone marrow biopsy so that leukemia or lymphoma could be ruled out (the scariest week of their life). Fortunately, there was no cancer found in his body (praise God!), but the doctors sent off additional testing to finally come to the conclusion that Allen had developed aplastic anemia due to viral suppression of his bone marrow from all of the sicknesses and stress he experienced the few months prior.
That brings us to current times. Allen goes to the hospital twice weekly for blood draws and blood/platelet transfusions and so far has only had one of those days where he hasn’t needed a transfusion. This brings his transfusion rate from the past 9 weeks up to about 40 blood products, averaging about 4-6 needed per week. The risk with prolonged transfusions is developing antibodies towards them, which can affect his donor match pool. Thankfully, as of right now, Allen hasn’t developed antibodies towards the blood and platelets he has been receiving.
My sister and brother-in-law drove up to Baltimore from Alabama to Johns Hopkins to get a second opinion from one of their aplastic anemia specialists. They strongly recommended a bone marrow transplant (BMT) due to Allen’s severity of condition, his age, and having no other health issues aside from this/not on any other medications. This could occur in the next 6-8 weeks depending on how soon they find Allen a match.
As you all know, major medical conditions like this one can incur high medical bills. Allen has also not been allowed back at work as a nurse due to his risk of infection, which could worsen his condition and cause his aplastic anemia severity to become critical. He’s the main earner in the home as my sister stays home to keep their daughter and runs her floral business but doesn’t have the income to keep them afloat during this. He will lose his current position at work due to needing to be out of work for up to a year while going through the BMT journey. And since he was part-time working full-time hours, he did not qualify for sick-time or paid leave.
They are currently waiting for a bone marrow donor match for Allen. Once they have one, they will have to move up to Baltimore, Maryland from their home in Alabama for 3-4 months to complete treatment at Johns Hopkins.
We are asking to raise $100,000 for them to cover the following:
- $65,000 covers their home utilities (gas, water, power, internet), mortgage, one car payment (hopefully not much longer as they are trying to sell this car).
- An estimated $20,000 will be from medical bills. They are working out the details on what will be owed, but this would cover his Bone Marrow Transplant costs, transfusions he has had and will continue to receive until his new bone marrow engrafts and begins working, all drug costs as he will need chemotherapy, radiation, and ATG therapy prior to the BMT as well as chemo and immunosuppressive drugs, antivirals, antibacterials, and more following the BMT.
- Approx. $3,000/mo for 3-4 months to cover the cost of the rent in Baltimore for an apartment while they go through treatment.
- Groceries/food, gas, travel expenses, and more are not included because Sandra’s income can cover that for the most part.
Our specific prayer requests for Allen and Sandra:
- That his Johns Hopkins team finds Allen a match quickly and that it is a 12/12 match with a willing donor ready to move forward swiftly.
- That Allen and Sandra give their financial stress and anxiety over to the Lord; that God provides exactly what they need.
- That Allen’s T-cells stop breaking his blood cells down and allow his marrow to recover before a transplant is needed (still believing in healing!).
- That they have complete peace in their decisions to move forward with this treatment.
Allen and Sandra have both agreed and wanted me to mention that if there is ANY amount of money left over from donations that they didn’t need from fulfilling the things on this list, they want to create a foundation or a donation towards another aplastic anemia patient who may be going through a similar struggle financially. Thank you all in advance for your kindness and generosity. They truly couldn’t move forward with this treatment without the hope that their finances will be taken care of.