For the Love of Keith
Donation protected
Anyone who knows Keith and his family knows they are the most loving, caring family that goes over and beyond to help you. They are not the ones to ask for help, they are the ones that help others. But, it's time for us to help them.
This is Keith's story, told by his Mother.
This nightmare started in May. As you know Keith had been ill for a long time. He went to the doctor who sent him for test after test. The testing took months, cardiograms, EKG’s, Thyroid tests, Stress tests, everything but a simple blood test. As he was going through the testing he was getting weaker and weaker. One day he had an appointment with an Endocrinologist. He was so weak by this time that he couldn’t even get out of the car, Jan had to get a wheelchair and wheel him into the doctor’s office. The doctor took one look at him and said “I don’t know what’s wrong with you but I know I can’t help you. I think you should go directly to the emergency room”.
It was there in the emergency room that they finally took a blood test.
It came back with all of the markers for leukemia. The emergency room doctor didn’t hesitate, he immediately contacted The Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania and had Keith ambulanced right over.
The doctors at Penn leapt right into action. They told us that Keith was literally a day or two away from dying.
Everything happened quickly. Keith was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
His first stay in the hospital was for 30 days. During that time he was put into a Clinical Trial for a drug called Blinna. The oncologists treated him with Chemo and Blinna. He soon went into remission and we all couldn’t be happier. But then the bomb dropped in July. After only one
month Keith relapsed. He came down with a fever and had to be rushed back into the hospital, he had an infection that they couldn’t get rid of. He was in the hospital for another month. The doctors decided that the best course of action was to take him out of the Clinical Trial and
schedule him for a Bone Marrow Transplant.
That’s where we are now. Keith went into the hospital again on October 26th . He was in remission and feeling good. Unfortunately, that was all about to change. In order to get the transplant, the doctors had to destroy his blood cells and bone marrow. This would make Keith highly susceptible to all types of opportunistic infections. He would have to be in a special “Allogenic” room in isolation to help keep him as safe as possible. As you know he has a terrible infection in his mouth and throat. He hasn’t been able to eat for the last 8 days. The only thing he can get down is pudding and yogurt. He’s also retaining fluid in his feet and legs. Not just a slight swelling but over 50 lbs of fluid. His feet are so swollen he can only stand up for a few minutes at a time. Keith is also diabetic and the steroids are making his blood sugar sky rocket.
The doctors are having trouble keeping it under control. As if that’s isn’t enough he also has blurred vision and constant headaches.
We are trying to stay as positive as we can, hoping that Keith will be healthy again to enjoy his life with Jan. That they’ll be able to go to the movies, go out to dinner or just sit on the sofa and enjoy doing nothing.
Keith is looking forward to spending time with Ruby again. They play video games together and ride their bikes to the park.
He misses doing all of the things a dad loves to do with his little girl, all of the things he hasn’t been able to do for so long now.
What Is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)?
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “Acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal within a few
months. Lymphocytic means it develops from early (immature) forms of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
ALL starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of certain bones, where new blood cells are made). Most often, the leukemia cells invade the blood fairly quickly. They can also sometimes spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen and central nervous system.
Keith also tested positive for the Philadelphia chromosome; having it suggests a poorer prognosis.
ALL occurs most commonly in children, particularly those between the ages of two and five. In the United States it is the most common cause of cancer and death from cancer among children. ALL is VERY RARE in adults Survival for children was 90% in 2015. Survival rates remain lower for adults (35%).
Keith has been going through 3 types of treatment;
Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy was the initial treatment. Most people with ALL receive chemo. Keith has been
getting Chemo since his first 30 day stay in the hospital in May. There are no surgical options
because of the body-wide distribution of the malignant cells.
Radiation therapy (total body irradiation):
Used as part of the preparation for a bone marrow transplant, Keith underwent 3 days of full body Radiation to kill any lingering Cancer cells as well as all of his bone marrow in preparation for the transplant
Bone Marrow Transplant:
Keith’s Bone Marrow Transplant took place on October 31 st . He has to stay in the hospital in “Isolation” until December 6 th . Once Keith’s White Blood Count, Hemoglobin and Platelets return to normal range he can go home but he must be in “At Home Isolation” for an additional
70 days.
This means he cannot leave the house (except for weekly doctor visit’s) and must wear a mask, gloves and gown at all times. The house has to be specially cleaned with bleach and peroxide in order to have as sterile an environment as possible.
All of Keith’s meals must be specially prepared. He cannot share food, beverages, utensils, etc.
He has to have his own bathroom which must be cleaned with bleach daily. The same goes for his bedding, towels, clothing etc.
Keith's family spends everyday in the hospital with him, Jan goes there straight from work and on her lunch break. His Mother and Father spends their days and night with him when Jan needs to leave to go home to Ruby.
With just Jan’s income bills are piling up. Parking at Penn is not cheap and is paid multiple times a day, everyday since his diagnose. Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated.
This is Keith's story, told by his Mother.
This nightmare started in May. As you know Keith had been ill for a long time. He went to the doctor who sent him for test after test. The testing took months, cardiograms, EKG’s, Thyroid tests, Stress tests, everything but a simple blood test. As he was going through the testing he was getting weaker and weaker. One day he had an appointment with an Endocrinologist. He was so weak by this time that he couldn’t even get out of the car, Jan had to get a wheelchair and wheel him into the doctor’s office. The doctor took one look at him and said “I don’t know what’s wrong with you but I know I can’t help you. I think you should go directly to the emergency room”.
It was there in the emergency room that they finally took a blood test.
It came back with all of the markers for leukemia. The emergency room doctor didn’t hesitate, he immediately contacted The Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania and had Keith ambulanced right over.
The doctors at Penn leapt right into action. They told us that Keith was literally a day or two away from dying.
Everything happened quickly. Keith was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
His first stay in the hospital was for 30 days. During that time he was put into a Clinical Trial for a drug called Blinna. The oncologists treated him with Chemo and Blinna. He soon went into remission and we all couldn’t be happier. But then the bomb dropped in July. After only one
month Keith relapsed. He came down with a fever and had to be rushed back into the hospital, he had an infection that they couldn’t get rid of. He was in the hospital for another month. The doctors decided that the best course of action was to take him out of the Clinical Trial and
schedule him for a Bone Marrow Transplant.
That’s where we are now. Keith went into the hospital again on October 26th . He was in remission and feeling good. Unfortunately, that was all about to change. In order to get the transplant, the doctors had to destroy his blood cells and bone marrow. This would make Keith highly susceptible to all types of opportunistic infections. He would have to be in a special “Allogenic” room in isolation to help keep him as safe as possible. As you know he has a terrible infection in his mouth and throat. He hasn’t been able to eat for the last 8 days. The only thing he can get down is pudding and yogurt. He’s also retaining fluid in his feet and legs. Not just a slight swelling but over 50 lbs of fluid. His feet are so swollen he can only stand up for a few minutes at a time. Keith is also diabetic and the steroids are making his blood sugar sky rocket.
The doctors are having trouble keeping it under control. As if that’s isn’t enough he also has blurred vision and constant headaches.
We are trying to stay as positive as we can, hoping that Keith will be healthy again to enjoy his life with Jan. That they’ll be able to go to the movies, go out to dinner or just sit on the sofa and enjoy doing nothing.
Keith is looking forward to spending time with Ruby again. They play video games together and ride their bikes to the park.
He misses doing all of the things a dad loves to do with his little girl, all of the things he hasn’t been able to do for so long now.
What Is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)?
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “Acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal within a few
months. Lymphocytic means it develops from early (immature) forms of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
ALL starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of certain bones, where new blood cells are made). Most often, the leukemia cells invade the blood fairly quickly. They can also sometimes spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen and central nervous system.
Keith also tested positive for the Philadelphia chromosome; having it suggests a poorer prognosis.
ALL occurs most commonly in children, particularly those between the ages of two and five. In the United States it is the most common cause of cancer and death from cancer among children. ALL is VERY RARE in adults Survival for children was 90% in 2015. Survival rates remain lower for adults (35%).
Keith has been going through 3 types of treatment;
Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy was the initial treatment. Most people with ALL receive chemo. Keith has been
getting Chemo since his first 30 day stay in the hospital in May. There are no surgical options
because of the body-wide distribution of the malignant cells.
Radiation therapy (total body irradiation):
Used as part of the preparation for a bone marrow transplant, Keith underwent 3 days of full body Radiation to kill any lingering Cancer cells as well as all of his bone marrow in preparation for the transplant
Bone Marrow Transplant:
Keith’s Bone Marrow Transplant took place on October 31 st . He has to stay in the hospital in “Isolation” until December 6 th . Once Keith’s White Blood Count, Hemoglobin and Platelets return to normal range he can go home but he must be in “At Home Isolation” for an additional
70 days.
This means he cannot leave the house (except for weekly doctor visit’s) and must wear a mask, gloves and gown at all times. The house has to be specially cleaned with bleach and peroxide in order to have as sterile an environment as possible.
All of Keith’s meals must be specially prepared. He cannot share food, beverages, utensils, etc.
He has to have his own bathroom which must be cleaned with bleach daily. The same goes for his bedding, towels, clothing etc.
Keith's family spends everyday in the hospital with him, Jan goes there straight from work and on her lunch break. His Mother and Father spends their days and night with him when Jan needs to leave to go home to Ruby.
With just Jan’s income bills are piling up. Parking at Penn is not cheap and is paid multiple times a day, everyday since his diagnose. Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Maria Beaumont
Organizer
Bellmawr, NJ