Hootie’s Medical and Family Support Fund

UPDATE 9/2/23--September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month!

Steve's next (and hopefully final!) step in the treatment process is a stem cell transplant (SCT). He was matched with a donor from Europe, and the cells are local and waiting! The process is lengthy, but we all have our eyes on the finish line.

Steve will be admitted on September 7th for a final cleansing round of chemo. On the 15th, he will receive the new cells, and this day is referred to as his "re-birthday." He will remain in the hospital for 4-6 weeks following the transplant to build up his immune system and observe how the new cells and his body cooperate. Once cleared to be discharged, he will have outpatient blood work and appointments 3 times per week for 100 days.

You can see that there are so many steps to walk in this process, but more importantly, so much hope! We all thank you for your continued support and prayers.

UPDATE: 5/31/23--It has been 7 weeks, to the day, since Steve was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and then admitted to the hospital oncology ward. In that time, he has undergone 2 rounds of chemotherapy, each with a multi-day continuous IV drip. The first round reduced the cancerous blasts in his blood, but the level was still too high to consider next steps. This was an emotional blow.

The bone marrow biopsy results from the second round came back today and...there were NO BLASTS! This is a HUGE step in the right direction. The path from here is still being planned and determined. His blood levels need to increase and stabilize before he can go home, but that is now finally on the near horizon! Following will be maintenance treatments and a stem cell transplant to kick the cancer out for good--more on that in a future update.

Tonight we celebrate the fight in Steve, the wisdom of the doctors, and the steadfast support of loved ones, friends, and even strangers.

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ORIGINAL POST:

Our dear friend, Steve "Hootie" Hough was recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a rare and aggressive blood cancer. Jenny and I wanted to set up a place for well wishes and donations as we are asking for everyone to leave their words of encouragement and support here, or can send correspondence to the addresses at the end of this post, as he has asked for his privacy and his family's at this critical time. Donations will be used as needed for medical and family expenses during their long journey ahead. We will keep everyone updated as much as we can through this and other media outlets. 

Please keep him, his wife Julia, his daughter Ella and son Liam in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for all of your support as it will be a very long and tough journey ahead for him and this family.He has asked that we refrain from calls and texts. Cards and letters will be the best way to send your support.

We are asking everyone to please sign up and try to be a blood, bone marrow and platelet donor. Your donation may not necessarily go to him directly but it will replenish what he has already been given and will help others in need.

www.bethematch.org

Dominic Mecchia

c/o Hootie

109 Swiss Drive

Oakdale, PA 15071

Jennifer Manypenny

c/o Hootie

3536 Rosalia Ave

Pittsburgh, PA15234

We thank everyone for your support.

Dominic and Jenny