Ridgewood, NJ

When Haksung and his family moved from South Korea to the U.S. a year ago, they faced the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language. Then came the unexpected. Haksung was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

His concern wasn’t for himself, but for his family. He worried about how they would manage without him, especially his 14-year-old daughter. She was struggling with anxiety from the culture shock.

Now, they all faced an uncertain future together.

Despite fatigue, Haksung continued working part-time from home to keep his family afloat. But his income was cut in half, he was consumed with worry about providing for them. How would he afford to keep food on the table? How would they cover the transportation back-and-forth to the hospital?

That’s when the Icla da Silva Foundation stepped in. We provided critical support to help Haksung prepare for his bone marrow transplant. They literally had nowhere else to turn. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to grant funds for gas and groceries, which were essential during his treatment.

Finding a donor match proved difficult due to his ethnicity, but in an incredible turn of events, his daughter was a match. Even though she was only 14, and battling anxiety, she donated her stem cells to save her father’s life.

Haksung’s journey is far from over, but thanks to the support he received, he feels hopeful. “Your program gives me hope for our future. Thank you.”

You Can Help a Patient Like Haksung

Haksung’s story is just one example of the many families who face overwhelming challenges while battling blood cancer. Your generosity can make a difference. Donate today to help provide critical assistance to a patient like Haksung and give them hope for a brighter future.

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Thanks for reading.

Written by: Bret Itskowitch

Goodyear, AZ

If you’re a parent, you probably remember when your child had an ear infection. It’s very common, but you still worry. No one wants to see their little person in pain. Usually, a warm compress, maybe a visit to the doctor, and it goes away.

Kelsey and Austen thought the same when their three-year-old daughter, Blakely, began tugging on her ear. But as their little girl’s discomfort grew, they thought it could be something more serious, so they brought her to the ER.

That visit to the emergency room turned their world upside down. Blakely was rushed in an ambulance to the main hospital, and then her Mom and Dad were told the four words that no parent ever wants to hear: “Your child has leukemia.“

Blakely was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia).

Because of the leukemia, her ear infection turned into mastoiditis and she required a double mastoidectomy. Then she underwent several cycles of chemotherapy until she finally reached remission.

Since Blakely was considered high-risk, the doctors told Mom and Dad that a bone marrow transplant was her only chance of survival.

At first, there was hope—two perfect donor matches were found on the national registry. But that hope faded quickly when the first donor didn’t pass the medical exam, and the second one backed out.

After six months of treatment, they performed a bone marrow transplant using Blakely’s Father as the donor. Tragically, the cells didn’t take.

With her life hanging in the balance, they tried one last option. After more rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to prepare her little body, Blakely received a stem cell donation from her Mommy.

The transplant was successful.  

She was three-years-old when she first went to the ER. It seemed like a lifetime had passed by the time she turned four, but now this little girl was finally able to go home.

Their journey was nothing short of terrifying. Blakely fought bravely through countless treatments while her parents battled the ups and downs of their daughters medical crisis. Daddy juggled work and caring for their older daughter at home, while her Mother stopped working to stay by Blakely’s side in the hospital.

The financial toll was overwhelming. Half of their income disappeared, while expenses dramatically increased. Thanks to support from the Icla da Silva Foundation, Kelsey and Austen were able to receive financial assistance for crucial needs during their darkest days.

Kelsey shared her grateful message with us, “Your assistance has allowed me to worry less about our loss of income and truly focus on being there for Blakely. We couldn’t have done it without the support from an amazing foundation like yours!”

You can make a difference for a little girl like Blakely, as they fight to receive a lifesaving bone marrow transplant. Your donation will provide critical support to a family who is facing the unimaginable.

DONATE TODAY

Please donate and help us be there for those who need us most.

Written by: Bret Itskowitch

REMOVING BARRIERS TO TREATMENT: Robert’s Story

Port Washington, WI

Bob’s world was shattered when he was diagnosed with blood cancer. He was already working two jobs to shoulder the financial burdens that included prior medical debt. His diagnosis forced him to stop working, and the looming bone marrow transplant meant he would be out of work for months.

In this critical moment, the Icla da Silva Foundation became a lifeline, stepping in to keep the lights on.

Support extended even further, providing funds for Bob to stay at Kathy’s House – a haven near the transplant center crucial for his recovery.

Bob told us that he was so grateful for the extra help. “I never wanted to ask, but the social workers convinced me. This had made all the difference.” With their worries eased, Bob can focus on his battle, and a chance to fight for his future and his family.

Bob’s t-shirt says it all, ‘Everything’s Gonna be Alright.’

We wish him a full recovery following his bone marrow transplant.

Your support can offer a family like Bob’s a fighting chance in their battle against blood cancer. Please consider making a donation that funds critical needs like lodging, meals, and transportation while a patient is in treatment to receive a bone marrow transplant.

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Written by: Bret Itskowitch

REMOVING BARRIERS TO TREATMENT: Cindy’s Story

Hope, ID

Cindy and her husband were enjoying retirement, but their golden years were threatened when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The only path to a cure was a bone marrow transplant, a long and arduous therapy that carries a high risk of complications. The news overwhelmed Cindy and her husband, but she was determined to fight.

Following her diagnosis, Cindy spent two critical months in the hospital.

After being approved for a transplant, they had to relocate to Seattle. Treatment is intensive and bone marrow transplant patients are required to stay within 30 miles of the transplant center in case of complications.

Her husband packed up their dog Murphy and moved in with family to be closer to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

It was a scary, challenging time. Battling her disease was compounded by the stress of mounting expenses. No one plans to receive a diagnosis of blood cancer. As a couple on a fixed retirement income, the added cost of housing, transportation, and meals while in treatment was a lot to take on. How would they get through this?

That’s when the Icla da Silva Foundation stepped in. Thanks to the generosity of donors, we provided critical funds for transportation and meals during treatment.

Cindy was grateful for the support she received.

“The assistance helped us stress less about all the bills and focus more on getting well. Having cancer is stressful enough. It’s wonderful knowing that there is an organization like the Icla da Silva Foundation to lessen the burden.”

Her transplant was successful and we wish Cindy a full recovery.

Will you help a patient like Cindy as they battle a life-threatening blood cancer? Your donation will give them hope and strength to face each day.

Please donate today.

DONATE TODAY

Written by: Bret Itskowitch

REMOVING BARRIERS – LANEATER’S STORY

Longview, Texas

Laneater Johnson was working from home; she didn’t feel well all morning. On her first break of the day, she had chills that made her shake uncontrollably. She realized she had a fever, so she took some Tylenol and decided it was best to go to the emergency room. 

She knew something wasn’t right; maybe it was a urinary tract infection.

After the triage assessment they give you when you visit the ER, they sent her to the waiting room to wait for a doctor, but she passed out.

Laneater was rushed to undergo all kinds of tests. They didn’t know what was wrong. She was right about having an infection, her body was septic. When the results came back, she was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia).  

She was immediately transported to Medical City Dallas to undergo 45 days of intense chemotherapy treatment.

A Long Process

She went through a long process that included many inpatient visits for continued tests and chemotherapy. Those treatments went on for about a year before they determined that she needed a bone marrow transplant.

There were no matching donors for her on the national registry, so they tested her siblings and her children.

Everyone in the family was a half-match, but her youngest daughter represented the best possible match.

In June 2022, Laneater received a blood stem cell transplant from her daughter.

Removing Barriers

Laneater was not able to work since that very first visit to the emergency room.  Even after finally receiving her bone marrow transplant, she still couldn’t return home.

Since she lived more than 50 miles from the transplant center, she was required to stay nearby for continued monitoring until the hematologist released her.

Fortunately, she was released soon after.

The Icla da Silva Foundation supports patients undergoing a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. Our Icla Cares program removes barriers to treatment with emotional, logistical, and financial assistance during treatment.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to help Laneater with a small grant to offset lodging expenses while receiving follow-up treatment at Medical City Dallas. Her stay was shorter than expected, but that didn’t stop Laneater from showing how grateful she was to receive assistance.

“This support came when I was in dire need, I didn’t know where I was going to get the rest of the money.”

It has been a long journey, but her doctors say she is doing well. Laneater looks great, and she smiles as she tells us that she can’t wait for her hair to grow back.

Watch Laneater share her story

We have high hopes for her continued recovery.

Please consider supporting the mission of the Icla da Silva Foundation. Your donation will help more patients like Laneater. Your gift will support bone marrow patients with critical needs.

Together we will continue to make a difference.

MAKE A DONATION

Written by: Bret Itskowitch

REMOVING BARRIERS – KRISTINA’S STORY

Burlington, Vermont

Late last year, Kristina did not feel well. All of her energy was gone. She told us that instead of falling asleep at night, she would just pass out.

Something wasn’t right.

She had a consistent, low-grade fever. With the ever-present fear of covid that we all live with, she kept taking covid tests; but they were all negative.

Kristina is a breast cancer survivor. Having lived through that experience, she knew something was wrong.

Unhappy with the medical care that she was receiving, she made an appointment to see a new primary care physician. That doctor immediately scheduled blood work.

While driving home, Kristina received a call from her new doctor.

She was asked to pull over. Her white blood cell count was through the roof. No one understood how she had the strength to stand up, let alone drive. She insisted that she was just minutes from home.

An ambulance was urgently directed to bring her to the hospital. Fifteen minutes after arriving at the hospital, she was diagnosed with blood cancer (acute myeloid leukemia).

After months of chemotherapy, Kristina received her bone marrow transplant.

The transplant was successful, but her follow-up visits will continue for many months.

Kristina has been unable to work since her diagnosis. She is not expected to return to work until April of next year. As a single mom, she is doing the best she can to care for her two boys.

We Are Glad That She Found Us

The Icla da Silva Foundation provides emotional, logistical, and financial support to patients who require a bone marrow transplant.

Kristina lived out of state from the nearest transplant center. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to help Kristina travel back and forth to receive treatment. We also provided her family with a small grant to essentially keep the lights on during treatment.

These small grants, in addition to emotional support, helped Kristina get back on her feet.

Watch Kristina tell her story. Her heartfelt emotion is powerful as she shares how the Icla da Silva Foundation removed some of her barriers and supported her recovery.

Kristina has had a long journey, and it isn’t over yet, but we look forward to her recovery.

Please consider donating to support the mission of the Icla da Silva Foundation. Your gift will help us continue to remove barriers for patients like Kristina.

As a 501(c)(3) all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest amount allowed by tax law.

Thanks for reading.

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Written by: Bret Itskowitch