The family and friends of Matt Ladd are uniting to raise money to help with his bone marrow transplant and related expenses.
Matt was diagnosed with AML, a form of leukemia, last fall at the age of 38. Unfortunately, he also has MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome), which means that without a stem cell transplant, the cancer will aggressively recur within a year. Matt was hospitalized for a month in BIllings to undergo chemotherapy, which put the AML into remission. However, he developed a staph infection in his chest port just before he was admitted to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, which has compromised his kidneys and delayed his bone marrow transplant. He is currently undergoing dialysis and waiting to be well enough for his life saving bone marrow transplant procedure.
Matt was given more bad news yesterday. His kidneys will likely not survive the transplant, and he will have to undergo daily dialysis for several years until he can receive a kidney transplant.
Matt, an avid outdoorsman and game warden for the state of Montana, has been hospitalized in Seattle since early January. His wife, Maureen, a teacher at West Billings HS, and their three boys, ages 10, 12, and 14, are having difficulty with costly medical bills and travel expenses between Billings and Seattle. This unexpected catastrophic illness has the potential to devastate their family.
Matt’s parents are staying in temporary housing in Seattle, a cost not covered by insurance, since Matt is required to have a trained caregiver to help him post-transplant. Also, Matt’s sister, Jessica, will travel from New Orleans to donate bone marrow. None of her donor costs are covered by Matt’s insurance plan.
Matt and Maureen are becoming emotionally and financially drained and we would like to take some of that worry away from them. We know they have many friends and loved ones. If you can keep them in your prayers, send a note or a “hug” via this website – www.giveforward.com/mattladd, and make a donation if the spirit moves you, it would help greatly to ease their difficult situation.
If you would prefer to mail a check, you may do so in Matt’s name and send to: 617 Indian Trail, Billings, MT 59105.
Your support, love, and prayers are much appreciated
Here is a link to the article in the Billings Gazette – Billings Game Warden Fights Cancer Complications
As of this morning, The Ladd’s have raised $16,150. They are over half way to their goal of $30,000 and the fundraiser ends on April 9, 2012. Follow this LINK to donate now!
