Kat Heathers, mother, grandmother, and long time resident of Eastern Washington, has recently been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Kat currently resides in the senior living apartments in Chewelah. Friends throughout the area are rallying around to help raise money for her treatment
According to the Mayo Clinic website “Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is one of a group of disorders caused by poorly formed blood cells or ones that don’t work properly. MDS can result from something amiss in the spongy material inside your bones where blood cells are made (bone marrow)”
A previous sufferer of Crohn’s Disease, Ms.Heathers took medication that is now believed to have caused the MDS. Ms. Heathers now has a very low white blood cell count and will require a bone marrow transplant very soon. The family was hopeful that her brother would be the donor, however, it has been determined that he is not a match. Doctors have started testing other relatives to find the genetic markers required.
The treatment for her condition will require her to temporarily move to the westside of the state, so that she is close to the treatment center. Rents in that area are 2 to 3 thousand dollars a month, and her treatment timeline could be as long as 3 or 4 months. During this time, every twenty-eight days she will go through five days of treatment. Her daughter will live with her during this time and act as her caretaker. While she is away she still plans to maintain her apartment in Chewelah.
Ms. Heathers is on a fixed income and will need some community support to help make this happen. A gofundme campaign was started by friends and loved ones. They hope to raise enough funds to cover Ms. Heathers rent and living expenses while she is undergoing treatment.
For updates and to contribute to Ms. Heathers treatment fund visit the campaign site dpgazette.com/katheathers
