Teacher. Mother. Survivor. This is the story of Help Hope Live patient Kellie Murphy, one of four winners of our 2017 Touched by Transplant New Life Contest.
Kellie Murphy’s world was turned upside down when she received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer caused by malignant plasma cells in bone marrow. The mother of two learned that to survive, she would need a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible.
Kellie also learned that the transplant would come with a host of out-of-pocket medical expenses, including co-pays and deductibles, temporary relocation and travel, caregiving costs, and a lifetime of immunosuppressant medications. She began fundraising with Help Hope Live as part of the Mid-Atlantic Bone Marrow Transplant Fund in February 2016.
In May 2016, Kellie found out that the bone marrow transplant she needed would be moving forward. “Believe it or not,” she wrote on her Help Hope Live campaign page, “cancer has made me realize how blessed I truly am.”
Last month, she sent us this incredible update:
“On May 31, 2016, I was admitted to the University of Maryland Medical Center to receive a bone marrow transplant in the hopes of going into remission from multiple myeloma. That day was also my birthday and my daughter’s birthday.
My time in the hospital was difficult, but the staff made it much easier. I will always remember their kindness. I had so many people to fight for, especially my son and daughter.
Now, almost one year later, I am engaged to be married, and my cancer is in complete remission. This year on May 31, I will turn 50 and my daughter will turn 21. We plan on really celebrating our joint birthdays and my new birthday since I have this chance at new life.
I am here because of others’ kindness, generosity, and many prayers. Thanks to Help Hope Live, we were able to make that difficult time a little easier on the people who were caring for me, and I will be forever grateful.”
As of May 2017, Kellie is within $500 of her Help Hope Live fundraising goal. She fundraises for the Help Hope Live Mid-Atlantic Bone Marrow Transplant Fund.
Kellie, right, with her daughter, Amber
Thank you for your story, Kellie! If you have been moved by this story, make a donation to Help Hope Live in honor of Kellie today at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/10362
Teacher. Mother. Survivor. This is the story of Help Hope Live patient Kellie Murphy, one of four winners of our 2017 Touched by Transplant New Life Contest.
Kellie Murphy’s world was turned upside down when she received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer caused by malignant plasma cells in bone marrow. The mother of two learned that to survive, she would need a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible.
Kellie also learned that the transplant would come with a host of out-of-pocket medical expenses, including co-pays and deductibles, temporary relocation and travel, caregiving costs, and a lifetime of immunosuppressant medications. She began fundraising with Help Hope Live as part of the Mid-Atlantic Bone Marrow Transplant Fund in February 2016.
In May 2016, Kellie found out that the bone marrow transplant she needed would be moving forward. “Believe it or not,” she wrote on her Help Hope Live campaign page, “cancer has made me realize how blessed I truly am.”
Last month, she sent us this incredible update:
“On May 31, 2016, I was admitted to the University of Maryland Medical Center to receive a bone marrow transplant in the hopes of going into remission from multiple myeloma. That day was also my birthday and my daughter’s birthday.
My time in the hospital was difficult, but the staff made it much easier. I will always remember their kindness. I had so many people to fight for, especially my son and daughter.
Now, almost one year later, I am engaged to be married, and my cancer is in complete remission. This year on May 31, I will turn 50 and my daughter will turn 21. We plan on really celebrating our joint birthdays and my new birthday since I have this chance at new life.
I am here because of others’ kindness, generosity, and many prayers. Thanks to Help Hope Live, we were able to make that difficult time a little easier on the people who were caring for me, and I will be forever grateful.”
As of May 2017, Kellie is within $500 of her Help Hope Live fundraising goal. She fundraises for the Help Hope Live Mid-Atlantic Bone Marrow Transplant Fund.
Thank you for your story, Kellie! If you have been moved by this story, make a donation to Help Hope Live in honor of Kellie today at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/10362
