Transplant Type - Bone Marrow

Last summer, while playing the piano for her church, Vicki began to feel ill but finished playing in the service. Later, her heart began to race, and she felt dizzy and weak. The next day, she called her doctor's office and got an appointment for the end of the week. The nurse advised her to get some rest, as she most likely was suffering from heat stroke. Vicki slept through most of the next two days, but finally felt so ill she asked a neighbor to take her to the hospital.

Upon arrival at the hospital, her blood pressure was extremely low. After running multiple tests, she was immediately transferred to a larger hospital more than 100 miles away. Soon after, Vicki was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Doctors said a bone marrow transplant was critical to her survival.

Thankfully, she received her lifesaving transplant in January, and she is recovering well.

Vicki is a loving wife, mother and grandmother who spent most of her days caring for others when she was able. She always kept her granddaughter while her daughter worked, and she was a caregiver for an elderly woman in her neighborhood. Vicki has always been very active and loves walking her dogs, working in her vegetable garden and taking walks. For more than 20 years, Vicki managed the food bank in her home town and she spent countless hours volunteering for the annual Toys for Tots program. She looks forward to having the energy to resume her volunteer activities once she is well. But right now, she needs your help.

A bone marrow transplant costs approximately $675,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health insurance, Vicki faces significant medical expenses related to her transplant. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

Vicki and her husband, Bob, temporarily relocated more than 300 miles from their home to be near the transplant center in Seattle during recovery, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food and lodging. Bob was able to stay with her in Seattle for a month, but then had to return home to work, and since then Vicki has had several caregivers, including her daughter, Jenni.

You can help.
To make a donation to NFT in honor of Vicki, click the link below her photo. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Idaho Bone Marrow Fund, 5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Vicki Luedke" on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance