On June 4, 2025 Anita was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for symptoms of unexplained bruising, shortness of breath, tiredness and weakness. Blood tests revealed she had developed leukemia. She was immediately transported by ambulance to the KU Medical Center Acute Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Floor to begin further testing.
On Thursday, June 5, she was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia). It is a subtype of AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), a cancer of the myeloid blood cells. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed this diagnosis.
Her treatment has begun. Her chemotherapy includes two types: Tretinoin is oral chemo coming in pill form (ATRA). She takes this twice a day. The second form is an intravenous chemotherapy (Arsenic Trioxide) given once a day for three hours.
This Treatment will go on for 28-35 days. Then, she will undergo another bone marrow biopsy to confirm remission. Hopefully she will be released in early July.
Upon relocating back to Lawrence she will resume the same chemo treatment but at a different pace. The doctors have given us encouragement and left us optimistic about her success in beating this. They are predicting a 95% recovery over the next 6-7 months.
Obviously, her expenses are growing rapidly. We are currently applying for Medicaid to cover medical expenses. Also, we are working to get her qualified for Social Security Disability, at least short term if not long term.
This fundraiser page is being set up to help with everyday living expenses, utilities, rent, groceries, gas etc. As most of you know, she owns a residential home cleaning service which is physically demanding. It is highly doubtful she will return to this type of work at all.
Any help those reading this can give is appreciated beyond measure. Anita is a humble but strong-willed woman who is fighting this with all her being. We are confident she will start her cancer free journey by 2026.
Thank you for your support.
Respectfully,
Her Family
