Bone Marrow Transplant for Joanna
Donation protected
Joanna is a beloved member of the LA dance community, whose life took an unexpected turn in May 2019. Young, energetic, and working with the most vulnerable and marginalized populations including foster children, immigrant families, people experiencing severe mental health challenges, and homelessness, as a Social Worker throughout Los Angeles. Community empowered wellness is important to her. Without skipping a beat, Joanna passionately engages in many dance communities on her free time, that embody what is important to her - community engagement , cultural awareness and spreading empowered joy.
In the month of April, Joanna suddenly experienced shortness of breath. It quickly escalated to where she could barely manage going up the stairs at home.
Joanna went to the ER expecting a diagnosis like Stress-Induced Asthma, and wasn’t prepared to be hospitalized twice in the month of May 2019. She underwent Blood Transfusions and Bone Marrow Biopsy all for the first time before doctor's were able to diagnosed her. Joanna stayed in the hospital for a total of 11 days.
Doctors' discovered that Joanna had a rare life-threatening blood condition called Aplastic Anemia, where the bone marrow stops producing new blood cells, also seen as Bone Marrow Failure and Auto-Immune condition. The disease affects less than 1% of the US population, and doctors do not know the cause of the disease for Joanna.
These past few months have been a physical and emotional rollercoaster for Joanna. She had just started a new job when this happened. She’s had to deal with the uncertainty of being on unprotected medical leave, where her employer can decide to let her go at any moment, threatening her medical coverage.
Joanna has to endure weekly, painful blood transfusions with side effects. Joanna’s blood levels are not stabilizing and getting worse every day. On top of all the stress and uncertainty, Joanna has been put in the position of navigating a confusing healthcare and disability system and in addition, lost her housing in the middle of this crisis.
Despite all this, Joanna continues to strive and be hopeful. She’s been grateful for her family and friends’ love and support, and from the diaspora dance communities she loves so much.
Joanna now needs our help more than ever. With very limited options for treating such a rare disease, it’s become clear that her best hope right now is to undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).
Her siblings and family are not a match, but thankfully an unrelated donor match was found in the National Donor Registry. The procedure itself will be a very intensive process, requiring Joanna to undergo Immunosuppressant treatment, and Chemotherapy with Radiation leading to infertility.
*Joanna’s recovery after transplant can take as long as 1 to 5 years, or possibly longer.*
HOW TO HELP:
Joanna has a very long road ahead of her. Any amount of donation will help and here is how the funds will be spent:
PRE-TRANSPLANT: Preparation for transplant.
- Body Screening Tests
- Specialist Visits
- Fertility treatments (due to high risk of infertility due to Chemo and Radiation therapy) including hormone and steroid injections/medications, egg harvesting, egg freezing and storage.
TRANSPLANT: Transplant is scheduled in the middle of September 2019.
- Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments
- Immunosuppressive medications
- Hospitalization Care (at least 2 months)
- Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant
POST-TRANSPLANT/RECOVERY: The most critical phase is the recovery phase which is at least 1 to 5 years, where potential infections may develop and could result in transplant failure.
- Post transplant medications
- Transportation, parking, and After-Care accommodations
- Rent and utilities during hospital stay
- Self-care and healing process
Thank you for your time and generosity!
Your continued support is greatly appreciated and we encourage you to share Joanna’s story!
Stay tuned for Joanna’s personal updates and upcoming fundraising events.
Follow Joanna’s healing journey:
Joanna's Instagram
Joanna's Facebook
In the month of April, Joanna suddenly experienced shortness of breath. It quickly escalated to where she could barely manage going up the stairs at home.
Joanna went to the ER expecting a diagnosis like Stress-Induced Asthma, and wasn’t prepared to be hospitalized twice in the month of May 2019. She underwent Blood Transfusions and Bone Marrow Biopsy all for the first time before doctor's were able to diagnosed her. Joanna stayed in the hospital for a total of 11 days.
Doctors' discovered that Joanna had a rare life-threatening blood condition called Aplastic Anemia, where the bone marrow stops producing new blood cells, also seen as Bone Marrow Failure and Auto-Immune condition. The disease affects less than 1% of the US population, and doctors do not know the cause of the disease for Joanna.
These past few months have been a physical and emotional rollercoaster for Joanna. She had just started a new job when this happened. She’s had to deal with the uncertainty of being on unprotected medical leave, where her employer can decide to let her go at any moment, threatening her medical coverage.
Joanna has to endure weekly, painful blood transfusions with side effects. Joanna’s blood levels are not stabilizing and getting worse every day. On top of all the stress and uncertainty, Joanna has been put in the position of navigating a confusing healthcare and disability system and in addition, lost her housing in the middle of this crisis.
Despite all this, Joanna continues to strive and be hopeful. She’s been grateful for her family and friends’ love and support, and from the diaspora dance communities she loves so much.
Joanna now needs our help more than ever. With very limited options for treating such a rare disease, it’s become clear that her best hope right now is to undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).
Her siblings and family are not a match, but thankfully an unrelated donor match was found in the National Donor Registry. The procedure itself will be a very intensive process, requiring Joanna to undergo Immunosuppressant treatment, and Chemotherapy with Radiation leading to infertility.
*Joanna’s recovery after transplant can take as long as 1 to 5 years, or possibly longer.*
HOW TO HELP:
Joanna has a very long road ahead of her. Any amount of donation will help and here is how the funds will be spent:
PRE-TRANSPLANT: Preparation for transplant.
- Body Screening Tests
- Specialist Visits
- Fertility treatments (due to high risk of infertility due to Chemo and Radiation therapy) including hormone and steroid injections/medications, egg harvesting, egg freezing and storage.
TRANSPLANT: Transplant is scheduled in the middle of September 2019.
- Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments
- Immunosuppressive medications
- Hospitalization Care (at least 2 months)
- Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant
POST-TRANSPLANT/RECOVERY: The most critical phase is the recovery phase which is at least 1 to 5 years, where potential infections may develop and could result in transplant failure.
- Post transplant medications
- Transportation, parking, and After-Care accommodations
- Rent and utilities during hospital stay
- Self-care and healing process
Thank you for your time and generosity!
Your continued support is greatly appreciated and we encourage you to share Joanna’s story!
Stay tuned for Joanna’s personal updates and upcoming fundraising events.
Follow Joanna’s healing journey:
Joanna's Instagram
Joanna's Facebook
Organizer and beneficiary
Maria Hernandez
Organizer
Glendale, CA
Joanna Gayle
Beneficiary