Todd Fields
Todd, a 30 year old graduate of the University of Kentucky, was working as a restaurant server/manager when his arms and legs began to experience extreme pain and weakness. This pain continued for months, along with a pulled hip muscle that would not seem to heal. Todd was concerned and decided to consult a doctor.
Todd’s first few appointments did not lead to any conclusions, so it was decided that he would have an X-ray and an MRI. When the test results came back, he was told to get to the hospital right away. The doctors had found a lemon size tumor in his hip and high calcium deposits in his blood, all of which indicated cancer.
Todd did not have insurance, but needed to be admitted that day. A week later he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and began chemotherapy. A few weeks later he received some more bad news, he was positive for Philadelphia chromosome. This changed the entire treatment plan; he would now need to undergo a bone marrow transplant.
He spent most of the summer and fall of 2011 receiving hyper-CVAD chemotherapy treatments and underwent a bone marrow transplant in November. Recently he has been dealing with complications as a result of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Todd lost 40 pounds in four weeks and has had a loss of energy, as well as skin rashes. This resulted in another hospitalization, but he is now feeling better and the illness seems to be subsiding.
Although Todd believes his recovery is going well, he feels the financial issues caused by treatment are crushing him. He is unable to work and in need of assistance with his medical expenses. In hope of receiving some support, Todd has teamed with the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation to set up a special One-to-One Fund to collect donations on his behalf.
Click here to contribute to Todd’s One-to-One Fund
Or you can send a check, payable to the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation.
Be sure to include Todd’s name on the front of the check.
Send check to:
the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation
515 Madison Avenue, Suite 1130
New York, New York 10022