Stem Cell Transplant at MD Anderson Hospital

Hi, my name is Bob Lazenby, and I'm fundraising for Fran Piegari...

Fran Piegari’s Story: (8-9-22)

Friends and business associates... I’m sure most of you are unaware of me having cancer. It’s called Myelofibrosis, a cancer of the bone marrow. The cancer was found in November 2016, and the medication given to me worked until around July 2020. At that time, I was in Orange, Texas taking care of my Mom, who had Alzheimer’s, when I ended up in the hospital needing five (5) units of blood because my hemoglobin had dropped extremely low. After my Mom passed in August 2020, I returned to Dallas. Unfortunately, my cancer continued to progress, so I had to work with my oncologist at Presbyterian Dallas to try to get things under control. Wanting to avoid Chemo, we tried several different medications, including a 12-week clinical trial medication program administered to me by MD Anderson in Houston. Unfortunately, it was discovered that cancer had caused my spleen to enlarge 10x the standard size, and my doctors hoped the trial medication would reduce it. Again, unfortunately, it didn’t work, so I received a splenectomy on March 31 at MD Anderson, leaving a zipper from my sternum down past my stomach area.

Upon returning home from the splenectomy surgery at MD Anderson, I was admitted to the hospital here in Dallas one week later because I had blood clots in my stomach resulting from the surgery. After another two weeks in the hospital, I was moved to a rehab facility to gain strength and endurance. I then returned home with a physical therapist to continue the rehab prep for the upcoming Bone Marrow transplant (called a Stem Cell Transplant) at MD Anderson in Houston.

THE PLAN

I will leave Dallas on August 16, 2022, for a three(3) week pre-op program in Houston. I will be staying in a living area in Houston near the hospital as an outpatient during that period going back and forth to the hospital for Chemo and other prep treatment.

I will be admitted into MD Anderson Hospital on September 4, 2002, to begin the Stem Cell Transplant. I will be in the Hospital for 30 days during the Transplant period to ensure that the new Stem Cells are engrafting into my body as planned.

After that time, approximately October 4th, I will leave MD Anderson Hospital but will have to stay in an Apartment in Houston in isolation near the hospital for an additional twelve weeks following the transplant for the “recovery period.” At this time, I’ll need up to twelve (one per week) compassionate volunteers called “Caregivers.” I currently have approximately eight (8) “compassionates” that have indicated they would be a Caregiver. I need at least four (4) more volunteers. Caregivers only have to wear a Mask and gloves when they are within a touching area of me and when preparing food. A Caregiver is someone who will stay in the same apartment with me; take me to the hospital once per day for labs to make sure the donor cells are engrafting into my body; give me lots of meds. They will prepare meals, handle Uber deliveries, and do any shopping since I cannot travel to stores outside the living area during this period because I won’t have an immune system. The chemo will strip me of my immune system, and exposure to a cold or flu would be hazardous to my life. After 12 weeks, I get to come home!

I will have to retake all the immunizations since I was a child after one year of the transplant, so I won’t be able to socialize very much, BUT I WILL BE CANCER FREE!

I NEED YOUR HELP

Most caregivers charge $25-28/hour, which I can’t afford since I need 24/7 care... (24hrsx$28/hrx7daysx12weeks=$56,448).

I HOPE YOU WILL FEEL LEAD to contribute to my GOFUNDME account (see below) so I can hire someone to stay with me.

Thank you for your consideration, your support, and indeed your prayers. I should be cancer-free as long as the donor cells engraft into my body.

God Bless you!!

Fran Piegari

214-226-3182

[email redacted]

GOFUNDME ORGANIZER

I’m setting up a GO FUND ME for FRAN PIEGARI to cover expenses for caregivers, living expenses, and additional medical expenses. I hope the fund will raise between $50,000 - $75,000 to cover all these expenses.

BECAUSE FRAN IS LIKE A SISTER TO ME... I’ve asked her to ALLOW me to set up this GoFundMe ACCOUNT ON HER BEHALF. SO, PLEASE CALL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS...

Thank you very much

Bob Lazenby