Ollie's Cancer Journey

Hello family and friends

As most of you know, my name is Ollie Otis, and I have been in this fight with cancer for over 10 years. You might know me from Costco, golf, basketball, coaching, or we may just be old friends. Some of you know the fight I have been in and the travels I have made. I have been trying to get into remission to qualify for a bone marrow transplant program at the City of Hope in Duarte, CA. I also have a weak heart that needs to perform better after having a heart attack back in 2009.

Fortunately, most of my treatments have been close to home. I’ve had many chemotherapy work-ups. I had a 6 month chemotherapy session that seemed to show promise, but didn’t put me in remission. I tried a different drug for about 8-10 months, which shrunk some, but not all the tumors, and still didn’t put me in remission. My doctors and I looked for clinical trials and I was put on waiting lists for call-back opportunities. I got a call from Houston, TX for a CAR T-Cell clinical trial. I took it and drove to Houston in hopes to help me and others in the same situation that I am in. I stayed there for 6 weeks only to find out that the treatment had little to no effect on my cancer. I came home and tried a chemotherapy that I’ve tried before. My doctors and I hoped that this medication would work with the CAR T-cells that were in my bloodstream from Houston and put me in remission. After about 8-10 months, all it did was put a stop to the growth of the cancer. I went to the City of Hope again to seek answers for treatment. They had a clinical trial that would help the previous chemotherapy regimen work better. I drove to and from Duarte every other week for about 7 months and was then taken off the treatment because it showed no response. The City of Hope had an option that used stronger drugs than before. Over the last 3 months, I have been through three rounds of chemotherapy, staying in the hospital for 4 days per round. After those sessions, my PET CT scan came back with significant changes from before the treatment. After all of that, and by God’s grace, I have finally made it. All of my organs are well enough to endure the trauma of the chemotherapy and move forward with the bone marrow transplant.

Over the years, I have used a lot of my own money to make it to my appointments, pay bills and pay for my medications. I have been working through the treatments and tolerating the symptoms that came my way. I am out of work at the moment, while still having medical and personal bills. I am reaching out to you, my family and friends, to help make ends meet and complete this fight. My goal is $6,400 to pay for any out-of-pocket expenses I have, which include hotel accommodations, meals, medication, gas, and any unforeseeable expenses. I know you may have your own struggles and responsibilities in life, but if you can find it in your heart to give something, it would be greatly appreciated. I want God to give you the blessings you deserve for blessing me. If you had it in your heart to give but couldn’t, I totally understand and love you the same and I pray that you still be blessed. You can follow along with me on this journey on TikTok @aaahleeohhh. Thank you for fighting this fight with me.

Your loving brother,

Ollie Ray Otis