Mandy Hughes Recurrence of Acute Myloid Leukemia

Summary:

Mandy's Acute Myeloid Leukemia is back. The treatment she needs is not covered by insurance. This GoFundMe is to support Mandy's treatment and travel needs.

Background:

Mandy was diagnosed with Histiocytosis X at 18 months old. After receiving 500 units of blood and chemo, Mandy was miraculously healed but continued to have reconstructive surgeries due to the side effects of the chemo. After a prognosis with a one-in-a-million survival rate and being told she would not walk or talk, she defied the odds by graduating high school, and having two beautiful daughters she is raising as a single mother. She went on to become a pharmacy technician and recently earned her national certification and landed an amazing job at The Ohio State University in the outpatient pharmacy department in 2017.

On September 4th of 2018, Mandy went into the ER thinking she had cellulitis and instead was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Mandy remained in the hospital either in quarantine or in the ICU for nearly a year. She kicked out the doctors that said they wanted to put her in hospice and did the unthinkable by being able to breathe on her own, walk on her own and go into remission for nearly four years after a successful stem cell transplant. Mandy has not been able to return back to work as her body has slowly been healing from her ongoing treatment. Although her body is now composed of 61% of her favorite sister's cells, Molly Grubb, some of Mandy's cells managed to start producing leukemia cells again. The leukemia is about 5-10% so it has been caught early.

Details of treatment:

Due to the extreme danger of the standard chemo treatment (Mandy coded 2-4 times while undergoing the transplant and chemo) she went through with the first fight with AML, she has decided to seek out an Alternative Treatment. This treatment alternative has a high success rate. The funds raised will be 100% used for the treatment and travel. We have included some of the details of the treatment. None of this will be covered by insurance.

We thank everyone who can contribute with their thoughts, prayers, money, and encouragement in advance, as Mandy continues her journey to wellness.

Update 3/30/23: Mandy will commence her treatment 4/17/23. We will update regularly on her progress:)

4/17/23 Mandy had her first set of treatment and is doing well!

Update 4/28/23: Mandy finished her 2nd week of treatment and just commenced a lose dose of chemo. Due to all of the other treatments she her side of effects of the chemo should be minimal. All of her numbers have really improved and she has her spunk back. We are incredibly encouraged with how the treatment is going. We are expecting the treatment to only be one more week.

5.24.23

Mandy went into the hospital last Friday for a fungal infection (a side effect of the low-dose chemo she is on). They performed a bone marrow biopsy on her yesterday to only find out today that they are kicking her out because she is her infection is gone and she is CANCER FREE!! A million thanks to everyone that contributed in thoughts, prayers, finances, and time. This victory is a community victory. This is how miracles are made along with of course the divine workings of God overseeing this:)