Help Cory McNamara Fight Leukemia

The McNamara family has deep roots in our North Country community. Cory and Dani, high-school sweethearts, have been married for 16 years and are proud parents to their two beautiful children, Newt Alexander and Kaycee Lee. Dani has dedicated over 10 years to the Alice Hyde Medical Center, while Cory has been a valued member of the IBEW Local 910 for 18 years as a lifelong electrical worker. Their commitment to their community and their careers has been unwavering, and now they face a challenge that tests their strength and resilience.

On May 13, 2024, Cory’s life was upended when he was diagnosed with Philadelphia positive B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. That night, he was admitted to UVM’s Oncology/Hematology floor due to dangerously low platelet counts, requiring multiple infusions during a nearly three-week hospital stay. Cory began a rigorous treatment regimen, including high-dose steroids and a special medication called Sprycel, which unfortunately wasn’t covered by his insurance. Thanks to a copay card from UVM, Cory’s family managed some of the costs, but this was just the start of their daunting journey.

By July 8, 2024, Cory’s condition worsened unexpectedly. Despite an initial positive response to treatment, his white blood cell counts spiked, and the rare Philadelphia chromosome mutated in an even rarer way. Admitted once again, Cory began traditional chemotherapy and a new TKI called Ponatinib (Inclusig). However, insurance complications forced Cory to remain hospitalized for 21 days while his family fought for coverage of the crucial medication.

Cory has recently completed his second cycle of chemotherapy as of August 10, 2024, but he faces six more cycles, numerous lumbar punctures, bone marrow biopsies, and a future stem cell transplant at Dana-Farber in Boston. The financial strain is overwhelming. The family must travel to Burlington frequently and will need to make the journey to Boston for the transplant. Cory has been unable to work since his diagnosis. While long-term disability has been approved, payments won’t start until December, and short-term disability is still being processed.

Your support will ease the financial burden of medical expenses, travel costs, and everyday living expenses as Cory continues his fight against leukemia. Every donation, no matter the size, brings Cory and his family one step closer to overcoming this battle.

In addition to financial support, there is another vital way you can help. Consider registering to be a stem cell or bone marrow donor at BetheMatch.org. The process is simple: you can request a registration kit to be sent to your home. Even if you may not be a match for Cory, you could be the one to help save another life. Your registration could make a world of difference for someone in need of a life-saving transplant.

Please join us in supporting Cory. Your generosity and kindness mean the world to him and his loved ones. Together, we can help Cory beat this leukemia and look forward to brighter days ahead.