Three years ago, on March 13, 2012, my Mom lost her short3-month battle with MDS (a very rare bone marrow failure disease affecting less
than 1% of the US). My Mom was my
mentor, my idol, my confidant, and my best friend. She was the kind of person who would drop
everything to help a friend or a stranger in need. She devoted her life to her family, her
friends, and the community.
Her passing shook our world, but following in my mom’s
footsteps, I had to do something productive.
That was when I discovered the AA&MDS International Foundation, and
more coincidentally, their annual fundraiser 5K Walk/Run that was to be held in
our own city of Long Beach the following month!
I immediately became involved and spread the world to family and friends
and the entire Long Beach community.
Within three weeks, Team Pat Reep had raised more than $20,000 for the
Foundation and more than 50 people showed up to walk for Team Pat Reep. In 2013 and 2014, we carried on the tradition
of walking and running in memory of Mom, and raised nearly $15,000 each year.
Two years ago I underwent a bone marrow biopsy, and I was
diagnosed with Familial Platelet Disorder with a Predisposition to Myeloid
Malignancy (it’s a mouthful, I know).
This means that I carry the rare gene that my mom and her mom had, that
has a 45% chance of mutating and causing leukemia or MDS (don’t worry, I won’t
let this happen to me :)). We never knew my mom carried this gene until
after she passed away, so lucky for me, we are way ahead of the curve. I am being monitored on an ongoing basis at
the USC Norris Cancer Center by the best team of MDS specialists in the nation,
and my health couldn’t be better!
As you can see, this cause is very near and dear to my
heart. I experienced firsthand with my
Mom how awful this disease is, and unfortunately because it is so rare and
there is very little research, there is no cure. It is my greatest wish to see progress in
this field so that no one has to go through what my mom and family went
through. Please consider walking or
running with us on Saturday, April 25th to raise awareness for MDS, or
please consider donating even if it’s one dollar…every dollar counts towards
finding a treatment and hopefully even a cure for MDS. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To make a donation, please click here, then choose “Support Me”.
To register for the walk/run, please click here.
My mom was the most kind, generous, loving, and giving woman I have ever known. She was my best friend. Everyone who knew her loved her. She was a leader in the Long Beach community, and devoted much of her time to philanthropic work. It’s my turn to give back. Please consider joining me or supporting our cause in honor of my beloved mommy, Pat Reep.
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