Dear Friends,We have wonderful news to share. Kyle Hicks WILL receive his bone marrow
transplant!
He reports to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 25th for a
period of testing. The target date for hospital check in is May 6th and the
transplant should take place ten days after that. He will be in Minnesota for
about four months. This has all come together rather quickly and Kyle is
excited and nervous at the same time.
There has been a long hiatus since active fundraising has taken place. When
the estimated cost of the transplant rose to over $1 million, the situation did
not look promising. Good things come to those who wait! About six months ago
following the publishing of the clinical trials test results, Kyle’s insurance
company notified him they would be reconsidering his request for a bone marrow
transplant. Soon they told Kyle they would cover it. He and his parents then
met with Dr. Wagner again and an estimated time frame was developed. They would
wait for a new hospital wing to open and the donor (a perfect match male in his
20’s) had to be tested and make HIS plans. It was just last week when Kyle
finally received a final “GO” and solid date for transplant!
We would like to thank everyone for all the many things you have done to help
Kyle reach this goal. Your work planning fundraisers, assisting with them,
digging in your own pockets, all the while giving Kyle such wonderful moral
support, has been vital to the process. Without the COTA funds you’ve raised -
an amazing $378,000 - the family would not be able to afford their portion of
the expenses associated with the transplant. The treatment would simply not
happen. Words cannot begin to express how much gratitude and appreciation we
feel.
It’s an emotional, exciting time for Kyle! We wanted you to hear this good
news from us first! Again, we thank you for your outpouring of love and concern
for Kyle and his family. Without you, Kyle would not be able to fulfill his
dream of a bone marrow transplant. Please continue to keep Kyle in your
thoughts and prayers as he goes through this life changing procedure.
Many heartfelt thanks!
Kyle Hicks and family