Dana Harris

In June of 2015, my niece, Dana Harris was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. A bone marrow transplant is her best hope for a return to good health. Dana has begun the preparations for the transplant and is fortunate that her brother Mark is a match and can be her donor.

Dana graduated in 2011 and worked as a lead teacher/ teachers assistant in a daycare center for four years. She also worked as a sales person. However, she has not been able to work since her diagnosis and it is uncertain when she will be able to return to work. Dana’s transplant journey begins with admission to University of Maryland, chemotherapy to completely wipe out her old immune system followed by transplant. Recovery from transplant is a long process, perhaps as much as a year. With recovery, Dana would like to pursue her education in nursing.

Transplantation is a very challenging and expensive process. Since August, Dana has traveled to and from Baltimore, Maryland to prepare for bone marrow transplant. This has been challenging, emotionally, and financially. Uninsured expenses for the bone marrow transplant and follow-up care will be in excess of $40,000. Cost will include travel and hotels fees to stay close to the hospital post-transplant, hardship expenses while Dana out of work, caregiver expenses and expenses for the very costly anti-rejection medication expenses that she will have for the rest of her life.

To help with the financial burden of Dana’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted 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 Mid-Atlantic Bone Marrow Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution to support Dana on her journey to health.

Also, please share Dana’s story with anyone you can.

Thank you for your good wishes and generosity.

Beverly Dorsey, Dana’s aunt