Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
Dear friends and family,
This website will become a journal of sorts as I make updates and express my feelings throughout my rebirth as they call it here in E-8. I even got balloons yesterday, 9/20/16, when I received my bone marrow transplant which is actually a stem cell infusion.
I also invite you to follow this link to my One-to-One Fund page.
https://onetoonefunds.crowdsterapp.com/feliciakincaidThe Bone Marrow Foundation’s One-to-One Funds are designed to support patients through this difficult transplant journey and any monetary donation is tax deductible.
Many of you may already know my story, but some of you do not. What began as a treatment for a complicated autoimmune disease has quickly turned into a nightmare for me and my family. I've been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, aka, MDS. If you know who Robin Roberts is, from Good Morning America, you might remember her diagnosis of MDS after she underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer, resulting in her requiring a bone marrow transplant. Well, a similar thing has happened to me. With my disease being a mixed connective tissue disease, similar to Rheumatoid Arthritis, my treatment included Methatrexate, which is a chemotherapy drug often used to treat many autoimmune diseases. Most people treated with Methatrexate remain on it for years without experiencing any negative side effects. I, on the other hand, fall into that tiny & rare percentage of patients whose bone marrow shuts down from Methatrexate toxicity. Essentially, my bone marrow no longer produces platelets or blood. Which means I need a transplant and upon first hearing this news we needed to find a facility...fast! Because our insurance does not cover ANY transplant facilities in the state of Florida, but does cover those outside the state of Florida, my husband Ken and I chose Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. So I've taken a medical leave from my job, and we've moved temporarily to Atlanta where I am being treated and supported, almost daily, on an outpatient basis, with blood products and platelets by Emory while I await a bone marrow transplant. As of July 13th, I have been informed that 2 donors have been chosen and have accepted. This is incredible news indeed! And after medical evaluations, one of them will be chosen and a date will be set for me to be admitted to the hospital to begin the transplant process. That's when the most challenging phase of this journey begins, and that is why I am here today asking for your help.
Please prayerfully consider helping us as God would lead you. Most importantly, please walk beside us in prayer asking for my health to be restored. We also ask you to consider donating monetarily as well. Taking a medical leave from my job combined with the move to Atlanta has caused a financial hardship and we have accumulated a large amount of out-of-pocket medical bills.
The seriousness of my situation has truly shaken me and my family to the core. If it wasn't for my faith in my heavenly Father, who is faithful and holds my hand, I would be crumpled in the floor in despair! My Beloved is my strong tower and I know He is GOOD. I experience His grace and peace daily as I seek His face and sing praises to His HOLY name. I have many verses I go to for comfort, but the one which sustains me is Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
I thank you in advance for any way God moves you to support us in our situation.
With a grateful heart,
Felicia
