Support Erin's Journey to Health and Hope

Hi. My name is Erin and I’m 45 years old.

At the end of May 2024, I took myself to the emergency room after two rounds of antibiotics to treat strep throat and still not feeling any better. After 7 hours and 3 rounds of bloodwork, I was informed that I needed to be transferred by ambulance to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute because my white blood cell count was almost 130,000 (healthy individuals range from 4,000 - 11,000). They suspected I had cancer.

On June 1st I was officially diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare and aggressive blood cancer. The doctor who has since become my Leukemia doctor told me that they couldn’t understand how I was functioning as well as I was considering my bloodstream was 61% cancer cells. Go big or go home right?

I was admitted to Roswell for 25 days and underwent my first round of chemotherapy while there. A host of secondary infections and side effects of the chemotherapy also occurred during this stay. They told me that my best chance at a “cure” was to undergo a stem cell transplant.

My youngest brother was tested and is a match and will be donating his stem cells in an effort to help save my life (forever indebted to him).

Since coming home from Roswell in June, I’ve been back twice for two more rounds of chemotherapy and will be admitted again on the 13th of October for a 4th round of chemo and then a stem cell transplant. I‘ll be in-patient for 2+ weeks and then I’ll be in “recovery” at home for about 3 months before I can rejoin society with a new and improved immune system.

Like all things medical, I’ve met my out of pocket deductible for the year for things that are covered and the bills for things that are not are rolling in. In addition, I’ve been on short term disability for the last 3 months and am about to switch over to long term disability. However, as of January 1st, my deductibles reset ($4,000 max out of pocket) and there are some out of network bills I am also responsible for paying. As many of you know, disability also only pays out 66.34% of your regular wages.

I’m not one to ask for help, but I’m asking for help now because I just don’t have the funds to be able to cover all of this and I don’t want additional debt looming over my head. You wouldn’t just be helping me, but my family as well.

I thank you in advance for any support!