Approximately a year and a half ago, my sister was diagnosed with a disease called M.D.S., or Myelodysplastic Syndrome. M.D.S. is sometimes referred to as "pre-leukemia" but this can be misleading. While leukemia affects only one type of blood cell, the white cells, M.D.S. attacks all types of blood cells. In early stages, the disease can be treated with drugs and or blood transfusions. In my sister's case, the medication, (some of which were only experimental with my sister taking part in clinical studies more or less as a test case), and the blood transfusions she has recieved every week to ten days have been marginally successful in maintaining her health and quality of life. But now she has progressed into the second or "high-risk" phase of the disease and her own body is not only rejecting the donated blood but is rejecting her own blood as well. In short, her body is attacking itself and she is running out of treatment options.
Now her best hope is a bone marrow transplant in which T-cells, or stem cells will be implanted into her from a donor. Local doctors in the Atlanta area gave her a 40% chance of survival. Recently, she travelled to Seattle, Washington to consult with the leading physician in the world, specializing in her disease. He informed her that this procedure is the only treatment option she has left. If it were to fail, there will be nothing else left to do. His prognosis was somewhat better, giving her a 70% chance of recovery if he were to perform the procedure. As you can see, the operation is by no means a sure thing but right now, it appears as though it is her only hope.
In addition to the risk, the proceedure will also be quite expensive. She does have some, but very limited health care coverage. I have already taken care of her $5000 deductible, which is neccessary for the insurance company to even approve the operation. Her out of pocket expense is estimated to range between $30,000 to $50,000, for this operation alone, depending on any complications. She has already incurred tens of thousands of dollars worth of medical bills from fighting this disease so you can imagine how daunting her future might seem.
That is why I have approached President Bill Keeling of Lodge 614 . If this was for me, I would not ask, but to save the life of a loved one, I will go to any length. I have already made phone calls to any officer I know that has any sort of corporate connection and Iam now asking you, the men and women of the F.O.P. Please help me save my sister. I do not expect any one organization or individual to provide all of the neccassary funds, but I am hoping that together, we can raise enough to at least give her a fighting chance. Would that I could trade places with her, I would not hesitate. But as it is, this is all I can do. If you have any questions, I have included links to websites outlining the disease, information on the cancer treatment center and a biography of the doctor who is to perform the surgery.
Thank you for your time and attention and please keep my sister Lisa in your thoughts and prayers.