Help Donna kick cancer’s ass

On October 27th Donna (Ashby) Howard was admitted into a hospital in Bakersfield where it was suspected she had a blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. A bone marrow biopsy was done to confirm this, however, the findings of the biopsy revealed something more escalated. She was officially diagnosed with Plasma Cell Leukemia which is both a very aggressive and an incredibly rare blood cancer. With her plasma cells showing at 80% cancerous and the level of specialized medicine she required, the Bakersfield hospital urgently transferred her to Los Angeles where she would be able to work with specialists in hematology and oncology. On November 7th a regional tumor board met to discuss her case and decided upon treatment. This treatment will be long lasting, strenuous, demanding, painful, and the most challenging thing our mom (Donna) has ever physically faced. That said, we believe in the team treating her and know God's got this. We're staying optimistic and providing her the positive energy she needs to fight this, even on the darkest days.

We’ve created this fundraiser because going through something like this is an incredible financial burden as much as it is a physical and emotional one. What is raised will assist our mom (Donna) and our family with navigating all of the costs associated with treatments, medications, hospitalizations, travel, lodging and other expenses that are incurred.

In October of 2021 our father passed away from a rare cancer due to agent orange exposure, and we believe we deserve answers and accountability for these terrible hardships our family has endured. In addition, funds raised will also go to supporting our mom's rights and researching the best means to get answers as to why this rare condition is now plaguing her, despite no genetic or family medical justification for this disease.

In general population, Plasma Cell Leukemia is a LITERAL 1 in a million diagnosis. If you know our mom (Donna), you know she is going to fight. We believe she can, along with the help of our family, and all the amazing people who contribute to this cause, KICK THIS CANCER'S ASS!