Help Gayle Defeat Leukemia AGAIN!

My name is Jennifer and I am starting this fundraiser for my Aunt Gayle to help support her in her fight against Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Here is her story...... In the beginning of  November 2018, Gayle was feeling very fatigued. This continued on until November 16, 2018. She was scheduled to work that day but instead she was driving herself to the ER. By the time she made it there, she barely had enough energy to walk in the door. After many tests, including a bone marrow test, she received 3 units of blood. The next day Dr. Angel, at Springhill Medical Center, came and gave the devastating news to her and her husband. She was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and would need to start treatment right away.  When describing the emotions from that day, Gayle says "My world was turned upside down. All I could think about was my family. My husband Paul, my son Tim, my daughter Amber, my son-in-law Michael and my two precious grandsons Mikie & Braylon. What would they do without me? Who would love them like me?!" She wanted to wait until her son got back in town to tell him and her daughter at the same time. Unfortunately, her daughter was there as the nurse gives discharge orders for her to make an appointment with Southern Cancer. Gayle looked at her husband as her daughter looked at them with tears in her eyes saying "please tell me mom it's not so" over and over. Her son arrived home a few days later. With her husband and daughter by her side they tell him the news. As any son would be, he was devastated. With the support of her family, Gayle prepares for a battle.  Gayle's doctor in Mobile, Dr. Angel, felt she would have a better chance at beating the cancer if she went to MD Anderson in Houston, TX. She sent MD Anderson the medical records and arranged for Gayle to meet with the doctors ASAP. On November 27, 2018 she was admitted to MD Anderson. The plan of treatment was for her to get a strong dose of chemo for 25 days in quarantine. This would consist of 4-5 different types of chemo at one time. On December 23, 2018 she was discharged for a few days. On December 28, 2018 she returned for outpatient chemo for over a month. Since Gayle lives in Mobile, AL, she would have doctors here treating and caring for her. During this time, she will make frequent visits to MD Anderson for treatment and check-ups. On February 9, 2019 she returned home and began her chemo here on February 25, 2019. This was now chemo treatment #3 and it lasted for 4 days.  Over the course of her 11 chemo treatments she has endured so much. She's been in ICU 4 times and admitted to the hospital too many times to count. With Gayle's immune system being shot, she would catch every cold and virus and she was always having to have blood and platelets. Not to mention the time away from her family, the stress, and the mental and physical pain that she had to deal with on a daily basis.  On April 5th, 2019 she went to MD Anderson for another bone marrow test. Her results came back in late April. The results showed a 0.01% blast in bone marrow. This was very good news and it meant she was in remission. Thank you Jesus! Her doctor at MD Anderson, Dr. Bravo, told her the bone marrow looked good but she would still need to continue with treatment.  Fast forward to October 27, 2019. Gayle was back at Houston for another bone marrow biopsy. The results showed a 2%  blast leaving the doctors to speak the words that she prayed she would never hear again, especially this soon. Not even a year after she was first diagnosed with leukemia, she learns that the cancer is back. They also tell her that if the new chemo treatment doesn't work, a stem cell transplant will be needed. Not only has the leukemia returned, but they have also found Squamous Cell Carcinoma on her head that will require surgery. When she heard this news she said "I felt like my world was spinning out of control, again".  As she struggles to cope with this news, she thinks about the fact that she's still recovering from her first treatment. This has put her in a financial strain. Visits to MD Anderson, outstanding medical bills, medications, copays, traveling expenses, and miscellaneous items needed to make everyday living as comfortable and manageable as possible, has been costly. Her husband has also had to take off work to care for her. More expenses and debt will now be added on as she fights this horrible disease all over again. In November 2019, Gayle began her new chemo treatment called Decitabine. She went in for this treatment every day for 5 days. Once this was complete, she started on a new chemo pill called Venclexta. This was taken 5 days a week. As I mentioned earlier, depending on the results of this new treatment, she may have to have a stem cell transplant. While going through this new treatment, her siblings were tested to see if they were a match for the transplant. Thankfully one of her brothers was a 100% match. Her donor will go to MD Anderson to donate his stem cells. He will have several tests to ensure he's healthy enough for his stem cells to recover. Approximately 2 weeks later, after they have collected enough stem cells, Gayle will then go to MD Anderson to begin the transplant process. During this time, she will be required to live within 10 miles from MD Anderson for about 3 months. When treatment begins, she will be in the hospital for 20 days taking a strong dose of chemo. This chemo will bring her numbers down in order to allow the doctors to do the transplant. Living in Houston during this time will be very costly. She will have to get an apartment that's within 10 miles, food, gas, parking fees, and loss of wages for her husband as he has used up all of his vacation time. She'll also need someone with her 24/7. A home health nurse may have to be hired to stay with her during the time that family is unavailable. These are just a few of the things that are not covered by her insurance. An estimated cost of living will be around $25,000. That's just to live there, it doesn't include any financial debt from her first diagnosis or the continuation of bills at her home in Mobile. It is now the last week of February 2020. The bone marrow test results came in revealing that the stem cell transplant will be needed. This treatment cannot start until surgery is performed on her head for the Squamous Cell Carcinoma. While waiting for insurance approvals and scheduling of her surgeries/treatment, Gayle prepares for a long road.  This GoFundMe will be to support Gayle during her treatment and to minimize the stress of medical bills and other expenses. We would like to thank all family, friends, and anyone who is willing to open their heart to help her in her fight against Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Any donation is greatly appreciated and prayers are always needed and welcomed. We will provide updates often and ensure funds are used appropriately.