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.

make a donation

Written by: Bret Itskowitch