Courtenay Wallpe

In late 2010, Courtenay Silvergleid Wallpe was diagnosed with a particularly life threatening strain of Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Since that time, the love, encouragement and prayers of family and friends as well as various complementary treatments have helped immeasurably in supporting Courtenay and enabling her to maintain a reasonable quality of life. Unfortunately, she has not been able to achieve remission despite enduring 14 rounds of Vidaza (chemotherapy) and a bone marrow transplant at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in July of 2012.

In March of 2013 it was discovered her cancer was back with a vengeance and Courtenay would need to immediately return to Seattle for induction chemotherapy treatment, in hopes of stabilizing her condition in preparation of a second bone marrow transplant. The induction chemo is an aggressive treatment requiring a lengthy hospital stay for monitoring. The second bone marrow transplant will also entail a minimum five month stay in Seattle, similar to her time away from home during her first transplant.

Sadly, the odds of survival through a second transplant within a year of the first are not in Courtenay’s favor. Courtenay’s husband Bryan, her two beautiful boys Zachary (9) and Zander (5) and her Mother Naomi will be relocating to Seattle for a second time in less than a year to support her through this extremely difficult procedure. The second transplant will require more hospital time and support for Courtenay. Bryan will be taking leave from work and the boys will be attempting to keep up with their school work from Seattle. The entire family will greatly miss their friends / support network in Tahoe.

Regrettably, insurance will not come close to covering all the costs associated with this five month long process and the Wallpes’ expected out of pocket expenses approximate $100,000. To help offset these uninsured costs, a fundraising campaign in Courtenay’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF), a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. All contributions are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southwest Bone Marrow Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Donations will help defray costs for:

– Bone marrow donor search
– Medical expenses of transplant and recovery not covered by
insurance
– Housing for Courtenay and her family in Seattle
– Travel expenses
– Alternative treatments to enable Courtenay to better battle the
significant side effects of the chemotherapy, radiation and
transplant

While Courtenay is battling her disease and worrying endlessly about Zachary, Zander, and Bryan, we can all help her by alleviating some of the family’s financial burdens. Please consider making a donation today.Our thanks for all that you do! Keep HOPE alive!