In May of 2012 Renee, a 24 year veteran with the Washington State Patrol, was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Multiple Myeloma.
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of your plasma cells, a type of white blood cell present in your bone marrow.
In early 2013 she underwent an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant which put her into remission for 24 months.
In Early 2015 her cancer returned and more aggressive than ever. Unfortunately with the aggressive form of Multiple Myeloma she has, and her reduced kidney function, there are really no other chemotherapy drugs out that she can use at this time so we have to move towards transplant.
Renee will have to undergo an Autologous Transplant (her cells) followed by an Allogeneic Transplant (Cells from a sibling match or an unrelated donor).
This was always an option but not one that she was willing to take in 2012 with her two children being so young. The intensity, severity, risks and uncertainty of a donor transplant were too great at that time; however at this point it is the only option.
This process will mean there are numerous uncovered items by her insurance including isolated housing at the Pete Gross House.
