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In the summer of 2013, while pregnant with her daughter, Jayde Wilmes was preliminarily diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. On September 13th 2013 she delivered Charlie, a beautiful healthy baby girl. Shortly after the birth, Jayde began a six month chemotherapy regimen starting in Bozeman, MT and eventually moving to Omaha, NE. After moving back home to Montana it was discovered that the treatment did not completely eradicate the disease. But there’s a plan.
Various oncologists from across the country have recommended an autologous stem cell transplant as a promising treatment. So there’s hope – the incredible opportunity to have a very costly life-saving procedure. Not only does the stem cell transplant require Jayde and her family to uproot from Bozeman, again, but the procedure also carries a hefty price tag.
The expenses will not only be medical (for the transplant, medications, labs, etc.), but include the cost of travel and housing. The transplant will happen in Seattle, Washington, where Jayde and her small family will live for about two months. The estimated cost before insurance for this can be around $100,000. After the transplant Jayde will be infertile. For this reason, she and her husband Evan have decided, as a young family, to preserve embryos to keep open the opportunity to expand their family in the future. Embryo collection (which will not be covered by insurance) will cost around $20,000.
To help with the financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Jayde’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Northwest Stem Cell Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.
To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.
For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
Hi everyone,
Honestly, the last few days or a week or something like that, has been beating our ass. We’ve slept little and Jayde has incurred severe mouth and gut pain, nausea, rashes and swellings and exhaustion, all while conscious and quasi-conscious and seeming trapped in a claustrophobic hospital box. The rawness in her mouth, esophagus and belly is the culprit of a lot of the pain and the reason she’s needed the morphine pump and the reason she hasn’t been able to ingest anything, food, pills, or otherwise.
Yet, we endure knowing that the trick has already been laid down, the trap set, and the bate, if forcibly, taken. The overzealous parasite tastes the same poison Jayde’s been feeling in her whole body. Any cells that reproduce quickly (such as these cancer cells, hair cells, mucus-membrane cells) were sought out by the intense chemo for destruction. All of the cells that would otherwise help Jayde recover from the side effects have been wiped out too (her immune system cells also reproduce quickly). That’s why we saved some of these cells from before the chemo, and transplanted them back into her blood at the opportune time.
Blood labs indicate that the cells that will help build Jayde’s immune system back up are on the rise and taking hold. Also, her mouth is healing slowly, and overall, her tract seems to better each day now. She’s started drinking, and taking some oral meds, and today some sort of food is on the agenda.
She is still on her pain pump but is looking to wean off in the next few days. We are hoping to be out of the hospital by the weekend. We can’t wait to get our hands on Charlie…if we can catch her, that is, running around when her Grandma Robin wrangles her to Seattle.
Again, we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts (a place we find in times like this) and we don’t forget the overwhelmingly awesome support system we’ve got at our back.
With love,
Evan and Jayde
Hi everyone,
Jayde and I are holding on strong in the hospital. She’s fighting through some pretty substantial side effects of the chemo conditioning she received prior to getting her stems cells reinfused on the 3rd (November). We’re taking the days as they come, keeping an eye out for one another, and most of all remembering that we just might have been born to struggle through this together. It helps that the staff here at the UW transplant team is pretty great.
We cannot wait to meet back up with our little runner, who has been under the watchful eye of not just a set of grandparents, but great grandparents too! We’ve heard Miss Charlie is becoming especially keen on her namesake great grandpa Chuck.
We expect for Jayde to start feeling better sometime later next week, in which case we’ll be looking forward to being discharged from the hospital, to get settled back at our apartment here in Seattle, for at least a little bit, before we can go home (hopefully for Thanksgiving!)
Thanks everyone!
With Love,
Evan and Jayde
An Update and a Thanks
We made it to and from Seatttle for the embroyo extraction and freezing. It all went well, and we look forward to the incredible possibility of having more children in the future.
Jayde is starting a chemotherapy regiment this week in Bozeman, and it is designed to both suppress the Hodgkin’s cells and help boost stem-cell production in her blood, for the eventual stem-cell extraction and transplant. Monday (25) Jayde had surgery to take out the port access (which had originally been installed for chemo but will not work for the transplant), and they put the new blood catheter, which will work, in on the other side of her chest. She has naturally been sore, but we have managed the pain. The hardest part for Jayde is the separation from her usual close, cheek to cheek, snugly proximity to Charlie, and Ava. But both of them get their kisses in. Yes, even Ava sometimes goes for the face wall-ups.
Yesterday (Tues 26) she was in and out in a couple hours at the Cancer Center Infusion room. Today we are in the hospital and will be for the next 2 days, as the infusion is continuous for a 48 hour period. We will spend about the next 3 weeks after that recouping, and then repeat. During this time, Jayde is also receiving a separate medication designed specifically to boost the amount of stem cells circulating in her blood, complementing what the chemo already does. We are hopeful that the stem cell level is optimum by September 23rd, which is when we are first expected to check-in in Seattle.
In Seattle, the doctors and staff will check Jayde’s stem cell count and if ready, begin the extraction, which is like a dialysis, where the blood is filtered for this or that, in our case, for stem cells. It should only take a couple days, all of which Jayde should be able to go back to what we’ll be calling “home” (until about the new year) to sleep. After this, Jayde will be completely restaged, to see where the disease stands. This will actually take a few weeks, and will involve a bunch of tests and scans, etc. But during this relative “down” time, we are already looking forward to enjoying Charlie as much as possible, and we’re just sure she’ll be running around by then…she is so close right now!
We have been humbled by this whole process. By cancer. By chemo. By the cold hugeness and unknown-ness of the upcoming transplant. It is nice, once in a while, to be humbled by something so overwhelmingly warm and touching as all of you. We are so very thankful for you and your contributions. We’ve been touched by folks we haven’t talked to or seen in forever, literally and figuratively, who have made a monetary investment in us, an investment that expects no return, except that we accept it. We do, and the humility teaches us, reminds us, to accept all the gifts life offers. Thank you all so much!
Evan
Jayde-
You and your beautiful family have been in my prayers continuously, this extends to my entire Russell family...we give to someone in need each Christmas and there was no one more deserving than you and your beautiful family. We will continue to pray for you and your family for healing strength. Your example of courage and determination is beyond compare. Sending you love and Merry Christmas wishes to you and your family!
Kay, Gene, Steve, Anita, Cassie, Esteban, Tim, Julie, Aubrey, Kyle, Ben, Matt, Teagan, Ann, Steve, Megan, Kevin, Ryan, Jim, Sue, Stephanie and Mary xo
Jayde ,Evan, and Charlie,
Sending you this message to let you know how much I love you and how much I think about you!
Too many miles apart, but always in my heart! Aunt Karen
karen vlahakis
Evan, Jayde, and Charlie,
Life is not waiting for the storm to pass, but to go out and play in the rain. Know that you are focusing on the fight and not the fright! If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it. Know that you have an army of prayer warriors growing everyday to see you through. You are on our hearts and our prayer list!
Cleo and Terri Welch
Evan, I am a friend of your mom's, and I have been and will continue to pray for the best possible outcome for all of you! Hang in there!
Janet Luzmoor
Our prayers are for and with you.
Dorothy Baldwin
Jayde, Evan, Charlie (and family)-
Continuing my prayers for you and your sweet family!
Suzanne Von Behren
Jayde, Evan and Charlie, We love you and continue to pray for you all during this difficult time. Give it to God and allow him to carry you through the rough times and give you strength. Through the last few years we have had to practice a little of this ourselves, and we couldn't have made it without His strength and the love of family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always.
Mark and Alice Schieffer
Jayde and Evan, I hope that you can feel all of the care that is here for you. I will be in Seattle some to see Jed and will send his contact information to you for any support we can be. We had a dear friend treated there and she has a wonderful outcome. I will keep you in my heart.
Virginia Murr
Prayers have been with you for many months and we will continue to pray for you all.
Randy and Judy Frueh
Hello,
You all don't know me but I am a friend of your mother Carol. I am so sorry by all that you are struggling with. Please know I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers for the journey ahead.
Sincerely,
kathy Swearingen
Dear Jayde and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you; including my dearest Friend Carol Regnier-Copp.
Everyone is keeping the faith for a positive, healthy outcome.
Carole Radlinski
Thinking of you! I love you guys! The army you have in your corner is incredible and that is a testament to your spirit & kindness. You got this!
Robert Stough
Jayde, Evan and Charlie, each of you continue to produce a tune that brings a beautiful harmony to your family. Here and there you individual may be out of tune a bit (you think ;)). However, your ability to get back into and live the harmony thru action will sustain you and continue to bring forth a wonderful melody.. You've got this ~ xoxoxo
Love you ~ A. Denise (a.k.a. Denny :))
Just remember we have a Man Cave waiting for you guys if you need it. Van just stocked it up with fresh snacks and your favorite Dry Sodas!!!
Love, Eric, Niki Van and Che
we love you guys. You got this. We are all in your camp; praying and cheerleading.
Matt, Jill, Patrick, Avery, and Ryan Baker
jill Baker
LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART! You're the strongest woman I know!! Bushie will help guide you through this! Talking about throwing a benefit show and other crowd sourcing options as well!! Let's beat this!!! Xoxoxoxo
Helena Marie
You are one strong girl Jayde, with an awesome support team! go on... kick cancer's @$$! we love you soooo much! xoxooxoxoxoxo
Aunt Theresa, Uncle Duane and the crew
Hi Jayde,Evan, and Charlie
We love you and are behind you 100%.
Uncle Joe & Aunt Heather Regnier and Family
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Jayde Wilmes
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
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