Mother, Friend, Cook County Sheriff's Employee

Kellie Ryan is only 44 years old, mom to a daughter, Rebecca, an employee with the Cook County Sheriff's Department since 2002, and a dear friend to many.

As you may or may not know, Kellie Ryan has recently been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma. The cancer is advanced stage, located within her femur, multiple vertebrae, pelvic bones and sternum. Due to the multiple locations of cancer, Kellie will start immediate aggressive treatment that includes the following: 

1. Chemotherapy - Kellie started aggressive chemotherapy twice a week at the hospital on Monday 4/3/23 plus chemo pills she'll take at home 14 days on 7 off for the duration of the 4 months.

2. Transplant - Kellie will then hopefully be ready for a stem cell transplant which will require an inpatient stay of 3-6 weeks.

3. Bone Repair - Post-chemo and stem cell transplants Kellie will have further scans to assess the damage to her bones once the tumors are shrunk. Surgery to repair or replace the bones with damage is common. There's significant concern with the largest tumor which is located in her femur, the long bone of the leg.

4. Maintenence Chemotherapy - yes, more chemo. Lifelong maintenance chemo is typical for Multiple Myeloma patients.

The plan of care is fluid and could change if something new is detected through blood work or scans or if she's not responding to chemo. 

Work --  Though there is considerable pain and fatigue with this cancer - Kellie is attempting to work through treatment as long as possible, but as treatment is already taking a toll on her, there will likely be a point very soon where she can't or shouldn't continue work due to stress, low immunity and infection risks. 

Kellie will definitely go on disability for the hospital stay for her stem cell transplants but could need to go before and is left with decisions related to having to work through cancer treatment. Once disability is started,  she'll wait an unknown period of time without pay and when pay starts, will  only receive half of her income. At the end of disability she'll also owe her employer for her insurance premiums.  When she returns to work she won't have any paid leave - so in the event she needs to be off for subsequent illness or appointments, those days will be unpaid.

Support Squad -- While we cannot predict the future - anyone that knows Kellie knows she's going to fight this cancer tooth and nail. But she could use our help! What we can do for her right now is help her with the financials while she does the hard work and fights the unthinkable. Lets rally up some hope and help for Kellie Ryan! Please consider a direct donation to support Kellie financially. Additionally, we have some swag for the support squad donors including t-shirts, hair ties, koozies and silicone wristbands available to purchase to show your support for Kellie and raise awareness for Multiple Myeloma at the same time. http://fundrazr.com/hopeforkellieryan

Contact –- We could use extra hands for an in person benefit event. Any tips, venue suggestions, ideas are appreciated. Please contact her aunt, Janet Scanlon at 773-610-1921 or cousin Leanne at 773-490-2391 or email donate@hopeforkellie.com if you would like to collaborate on an event or have any ideas on how to help. We will do our best to update and keep you posted on Kellie's condition.

Thank You for Your Support!

www.hopeforkellie.com

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Kellie's Medical History--

Though Kellie was previously diagnosed with an auto immune disease as well as degenerative disc disease  -  she was followed and monitored closely by specialists . The very doctors who followed and evaluated her every few months with labs drawn, referrals given , assured her it was progression of her previous autoimmune issues, despite new onset of pain. 

Kellie pressed on, advocating for herself, pressing for more answers as it became less bearable, although hopeful and even at ease thinking it was just what they said - autoimmune. 

The MRI test she pressed for revealed cancer in her body in multiple locations was shocking to not only her but the  providers. The additional biopsies on the tumors resulted in a multiple myeloma diagnosis  - which was outright overwhelming. Nothing prior indicated anything close to the word “cancer “, much less Multiple Myeloma . To think, just weeks ago she was told there was nothing to worry about.

About Multiple Myeloma--

Currently there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma . Multiple Myeloma (MM) is an incurable terminal cancer,  it can be treated with the hopes of remission. MM forms in plasma cells, which help to make antibodies that fight infections. Because of this most people who die with this cancer actually die from infection. Cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. The disease can damage the bones, immune system, kidneys, and red blood cell count. Multiple myeloma is a rare cancer. In 2019, about 32,000 individuals in the United States were diagnosed with this disease. It is believed that approximately 100,000 Americans currently have the disease. And it's even more rare for younger people - only 10% are under 50.