Plan offers hope in MonoMAC fight
<p>Jennifer Pollard and her husband, Ray, have been focused on fighting her rare genetic disorder for the past several years. (Courtesy photo)</p>
SANDPOINT — The next few months will be decisive for the Pollard family.
For the last several years, wife and mother Jennifer Pollard has been locked in a battle with an exceptionally rare genetic disorder known as MonoMAC.
While she’s lived with the condition her entire life, it has now escalated to life-threatening proportions, leading to immune system failure, bone infections and more. It also has caught the attention of National Health Institute scientists, who believe Pollard’s unique genetic make-up could play an important role in leukemia research.
In the next few months, however, the Pollards are focused entirely on a largely experimental bone marrow transplant and treatment plan to save Jennifer’s life. Between the lack of documentation on similar cases and the huge expenses involved, it will be an uncertain time for the family.
“If we can’t come up with the money and can’t do this (treatment plan), it would be a death sentence for Jennifer at this point,” Ray Pollard said.
Residents can help alleviate that uncertainty for the Pollards by participating in an online raffle. Up for grabs is a beautiful Martin HD-28 acoustic guitar valued at $2,700 — an amazing present for yourself or to that special musician out there. To participate, visit www.gofundme.com/lets-save-jen and place a donation of $20 or more. The more you donate, the better the chance you have — $50 gets you three raffle tickets, while $100 gets you six. The raffle drawing will take place Dec. 20, at which point the winner will be notified.
Every little bit will help the Pollards deal with the enormous costs of saving Jennifer’s life. Fortunately, the National Health Institute is paying for the marrow transplant and in-patient care — itself valued at nearly half a million dollars.
However, out-patient therapy, transportation and living costs and arrangements for the Pollards’ two high school-aged daughters add up to serious out-of-pocket expenses. Since Ray Pollard believes a treatment schedule will keep them near the National Health Institute headquarters in Bethesda, Md., for about six months, those expenses will likely total about $120,000.
“That’s a conservative estimate,” Pollard said.
The Pollards have been working with NHI scientists for years to find a perfectly-matched bone marrow donor. When that individual proved elusive, Pollard’s doctors determined to use her brother Rob Price — only a half-match, but at this point, the best person available.
Once she begins her treatment plan early next year, Pollard will undergo one to three weeks of blood work and general health check-ups, followed by a test dose of intensive chemotherapy. If she responds well, she will take on five days of chemotherapy and one day of full body radiation. Finally, she will receive her bone marrow transplant and then begin an extensive post-transplant rehabilitation process.
Storage space is another necessity for the Pollards as they prepare for their Bethesda move. However, storage units are an expense they aren’t eager to add into the mix. Any owners of large storage units willing to donate to the cause by calling 610-1400 would be a huge help, Pollard said.
Throughout the fight, the Pollards have been incredibly grateful for the community support to date. There’s no way they could have come this far without the residents of Bonner County, they said. The family hopes locals will stick with them for the next few months to see their trial through to the end.
To learn more about Jennifer Pollard and find more ways to help, visit www.friendsofjennifer.com. For tax deductible donations, send a check with Jennifer’s name on it to the Bone Marrow Foundation, 515 Madison Ave., Suite 1130, New York, NY, 10022.
Info.: 610-1400