Support Kyle Waltman's Fight Against Leukemia

On New Years Eve my girlfriend, Sandra Waltman, was informed by a family friend that Sandra's son, Kyle Waltman, had been taken by ambulance from a local Urgent Care Center to Reading Hospital. Kyle had been sick for about a week prior to his visit with a horrific cough, ear-splitting headaches, insomnia, and frequent bouts of vomiting. He wanted answers and relief. During the course of the testing at Urgent Care, Kyle was discovered to have critically low blood pressure, a fever spiking near 103 degrees, still with a violent cough, and nauseated. Further testing at Reading Hospital revealed low levels of both his red and white blood cells, low platelet levels, an enlarged spleen, and severe dehydration. The possibility for a diagnosis of a form of cancer had already appeared in the results of some initial tests. Kyle's medical team concluded that the next course of action would be to do a bone marrow biopsy to make a more definitive diagnosis. On the morning of January 3rd, three days removed from what Kyle believed were symptoms from a reaction to the flu shot he had received on December 26th, they performed  the biopsy and mere hours later were able to confirm their diagnosis. At just 21 years of age, Kyle was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 

Kyle's particular form of leukemia is an on-set, rapidly advancing form of the disease which explained how sick he became in such a short period of time. His primary doctor at Reading Hospital immediately fast tracked him for a room at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson University Hospital. His treatment will involve more specific testing around the gene(s) commonly associated with ALL in hopes of narrowing down his treatment plan to better target and kill his leukemia cells and to stop them from spreading. This process will involve Kyle going through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics, supplemental medications, and round-the-clock care at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

As of January 4th, Kyle is situated in his room at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. More testing will be done over the course of the weekend with the plan being for him to start his first session of chemotherapy on Monday, January 6th. Kyle's mother Sandra, the Waltmans, their extended family, Kyle's friends, and myself (Michael Partridge) will be endlessly supporting Kyle as he goes through this incredibly difficult time in his life. The doctors and nurses that have observed Kyle believe he has a very good chance of beating his illness following their still developing treatment plan. His support system is in place and the doctors are ready to tackle this disease head on. We all want Kyle Waltman cancer free!

Kyle is a kind, genuine, and uncommonly funny young man. He's only 21 years old. He has the rest of his life ahead of him and doesn't deserve to have to worry about his next tests results, the side effects chemotherapy will bring, or the bills that come with his treatment. He deserves to enjoy his 20's as a healthy young adult. And as uplifting as it was to hear that Kyle's prognosis looks to be fairly positive moving forward, it is not without cost. Kyle is covered by health insurance through his mother's employer. The cost of treating his acute lymphoblastic leukemia will no doubt go over what Sandra's health insurance will cover over the course of her son's treatment. The out-of-pocket expenses Kyle will accrue will be well beyond what he can afford.

While Sandra and I are prepared to spend our every dollar to ensure Kyle receives the best treatment he can, we believe we will fall short due to our modest means. I've created this campaign for Kyle in hopes of drawing upon the kindhearted and generous nature of people to donate to Kyle's treatment and recovery from this vicious disease. The amount does not matter, well wishes offer emotional support money cannot buy. Whatever you can afford to spare for this cause will go a long way towards Kyle's tests, nights spent at the hospital, chemotherapy sessions, medications and countless other related treatment expenses. Sandra and I live just outside Reading, PA and with Kyle being treated in Philadelphia, even small donations can help alleviate some of the financial burden the logistics of driving to Philadelphia almost every day will put on us. 

Sincerely and from the bottom of our hearts, Kyle, Sandra, and I would like to say to anyone able to donate towards his treatment and to those lending Kyle a supportive thought towards his recovery... Thank you and God Bless!