Fundraiser for Kellie Ryan Facebook Event
This campaign was created for friends and family of Kellie Ryan
to show support during her fight with Multiple Myeloma Cancer.
Anyone who knows Kellie, knows she is one of the most
hard-working, considerate, generous and compassionate people around.
Kellie could use some people just like her in her corner right now.
Kellie is not the type to ask anyone for anything, ever - so her
family and friends wanted to start this for her. Please consider a
donation and feel free to use the
PERKS button and claim some swag as
a thank you for your donation to Kellie's campaign. The items have
been donated and Kellie receives your full payment, less the 2.9%
credit card processing direct into her bank account if you choose to
offset the fundrazr platform fees.
About Kellie:
Kellie is only 44 years old, mom to a daughter, Rebecca, an employee with the Cook County Sheriff's Department since 2002, and a dear friend to many.
As you may or may not know, Kellie Ryan has recently been
diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma.
The cancer is advanced stage, located within her femur, multiple
vertebrae, pelvic bones and sternum. Due to the multiple locations
of cancer, Kellie will start immediate aggressive treatment that
includes the following plan of care which is fluid and could change
if something new is detected through blood work or scans or if she's
not responding to chemo.
Plan of Care:
-
Chemotherapy - Kellie started aggressive chemotherapy twice a week at the hospital on Monday 4/3/23 plus chemo pills she'll take at home 14 days on 7 off for the duration of the 4 months.
-
Transplant - Kellie will then hopefully be ready for a stem cell transplant which will require an inpatient stay of 3-6 weeks.
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Bone Repair - Post-chemo and stem cell transplants Kellie will have further scans to assess the damage to her bones once the tumors are shrunk. Surgery to repair or replace the bones with damage is common. There's significant concern with the largest tumor which is located in her femur, the long bone of the leg.
-
Maintenence Chemotherapy - yes, more chemo. Lifelong maintenance chemo is typical for Multiple Myeloma patients.
Work -- Though there is considerable pain and fatigue with this cancer - Kellie is attempting to work through treatment as long as possible, but as treatment is already taking a toll on her, there will likely be a point very soon where she can't or shouldn't continue work due to stress, low immunity and infection risks.
Kellie will definitely go on disability for the hospital stay for her stem cell transplants but could need to go before and is left with decisions related to having to work through cancer treatment. Once disability is started, she'll wait an unknown period of time without pay and when pay starts, will only receive half of her income. At the end of disability she'll also owe her employer for her insurance premiums. When she returns to work she won't have any paid leave - so in the event she needs to be off for subsequent illness or appointments, those days will be unpaid.
Support Squad --
While we cannot predict the future - anyone that knows
Kellie knows she's going to fight this cancer tooth and nail. But
she could use our help! What we can do for her right now is help her
with the financials while she does the hard work and fights the
unthinkable. Lets rally up some hope and help for Kellie Ryan!
Please consider a direct donation to support Kellie financially.
Additionally, we have some swag for the support squad donors
including t-shirts and silicone wristbands available to purchase to
show your support for Kellie and raise awareness for Multiple
Myeloma at the same time.
Contact–- We could use extra hands for an in person benefit event. Any tips, venue suggestions, ideas are appreciated. Please contact her aunt, Janet Scanlon at 773-610-1921 or cousin Leanne at 773-490-2391 or email donate@hopeforkellie.com if you would like to join the Support Squad Team, collaborate on an event or have any ideas on how to help. We will do our best to update and keep you posted on Kellie's condition.
Thank You for Your Support and Prayers!
--
Kellie's Medical History--
Though Kellie was previously diagnosed with an auto immune disease as well as degenerative disc disease - she was followed and monitored closely by specialists . The very doctors who followed and evaluated her every few months with labs drawn, referrals given , assured her it was progression of her previous autoimmune issues, despite new onset of pain.
Kellie pressed on, advocating for herself, pressing for more answers as it became less bearable, although hopeful and even at ease thinking it was just what they said - autoimmune.
The MRI test she pressed for revealed cancer in her body in multiple locations was shocking to not only her but the providers. The additional biopsies on the tumors resulted in a multiple myeloma diagnosis - which was outright overwhelming. Nothing prior indicated anything close to the word “cancer “, much less Multiple Myeloma . To think, just weeks ago she was told there was nothing to worry about.
About Multiple Myeloma--
Currently there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma . Multiple Myeloma (MM) is an incurable terminal cancer, it can be treated with the hopes of remission. MM forms in plasma cells, which help to make antibodies that fight infections. Because of this most people who die with this cancer actually die from infection. Cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. The disease can damage the bones, immune system, kidneys, and red blood cell count. Multiple myeloma is a rare cancer. In 2019, about 32,000 individuals in the United States were diagnosed with this disease. It is believed that approximately 100,000 Americans currently have the disease. And it's even more rare for younger people - only 10% are under 50.
Please keep Kellie in your prayers and consider joining
Kellie's SUPPORT SQUAD, donating and wearing the Hope for
Kellie Support Squad Swag to show Kellie that she is not alone in
this fight and to raise awareness for the need for research and
support of the warriors and survivors of Multiple Myeloma cancer. No
one should fight alone!
You can view updates here and also on Kellie's website - www.hopeforkellie.com
