We are all feeling the unprecedented effects of this global corona virus.  For my sister Ellen, who has multiple myeloma, the effects of COVID 19 are even more extreme and heartbreaking.

In July 2018 I ran a campaign to raise funds for Ellen who had been undergoing three years of treatment for multiple myeloma.  The disease had caused her blood plasma count to escalate.  Constant bone pain and fractures ensued, and she was on high doses of chemotherapy which she could not tolerate.  After three years she was finally referred for a life-saving stem cell treatment at the renowned Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ.  The stem cell involved completely stripping her immune system, giving her bone marrow transplants of her own purified blood.  It was a great success.   Though there is still NO cure for multiple myeloma, after three weeks intense immune isolation, a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation period, the stem cell resulted in complete remission.  The overwhelming support we received from the fundraising on Jewcer raised funds of $10, 997 enabled Ellen to pay for caregivers, supportive care, and other supplementation for the rehab which Ellen’s disability payments and employment insurance did not cover.

I wrote an update in November 2019 to all our wonderful sponsors and donors about what their funding was able to achieve, and Ellen’s steady, painstaking progress and improvement in life quality.  This had been despite the challenges of enormous gaps due to having to switch to the US government Medicare insurance, which does not cover essentials such as

1) the Mayo Clinic, 2) the wonderful doctor, Dr Fonseca, who saved her life 3) complete costs of medication, 4) individual therapy.  Although she still receives a generous co-payment grant from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), it can NOT be used for out of pocket expenses to continue with the above providers. Ellen was still making steady progress towards regaining her independence.

and now-COVID 19, progress Ellen has made over the last year and a half has been drastically setback:

·       yoga classes helping build bone and muscle strength-CANCELLED

·       vocational rehabilitation counselor to help get back to work doing online at-home                       employment-  CANCELLED

·       volunteer visits for regular check-ins and staying on top of the endless paperwork for annual        funding-CANCELLED

·       library for faxing, photocopying, advice-CLOSED

·       volunteer  home support for shopping, pet care, walking-CANCELLED

FOR ELLEN WITH HER IMMUNE COMPROMISED CONDITION

ISOLATION HAS RETURNED

independence, earning supplementary income, paying for additional therapies, home aids and support-HOW?

For these reasons I have decided to reopen my fundraiser for Ellen, to give her emergency funds now that will raise money for supplementary support during covid-19 such as: $500 doctor’s registration costs,  $400 car repairs; home repairs and a suitable mattress

RURAL DISABLED ASSISTANCE  FOUNDATION, Inc. (RDAF), a local charitable foundation has linked with us to channel funding for Ellen and others like her with immune compromised conditions in these even more difficult times.  Funding will go through RDAF to our specific campaign

ROOT FOR ELLEN2

any support and donation you can give in this crisis for us all would be enormously appreciated and go to enable Ellen to bridge this time of need.

THANK YOU and stay safe