Crystal Denton with her husband Chris.Gainesville woman Crystal Denton is seeking help through GoFundMe page "Help Save Crystal's Life!!" to pay for her outpatient stay while she receives life-saving treatment for the rare form of cancer she has suffered from for almost a decade.
Crystal is a 31-year-old mother of two children who attend a local elementary school in Gainesville. She graduated from Woodbridge Senior High School, married her first love 13 years ago, and has continued to reside in Prince William County.
After years of pain, sickness and misdiagnosis, Crystal was diagnosed with Langerhan Cell Histocytosis or "LCH" in 2009. Doctors had such a difficult time diagnosing her disease since she was a young woman with a form of cancer more common in children.
According to a friend Cyrstal’s family has struggled and persevered through endless doctors appointments, insurance bureaucracy, chemotherapy and suffering in addition to the financial burden any family faces during chronic illness. The Dentons have soldiered on through the highs and lows of this debilitating disease for seven years in hopes of extending, with some quality, her short life.
Recent developments have brought both frightening and hopeful news. Doctors who were running out of workable options did a bone marrow biopsy to see if this last ditch effort could work for her. During that process, they discovered Crystal has Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a genetic form of leukemia caused by Monosomy 7.
As a result, Crystal was sent to John Hopkins where a second bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. She received news that is both the good. MDS is fatal with only one known cure - a bone marrow transplant. Doctors believe the transplant will not only cure her MDS, but if it is successful, it will also cure her LCH.
A bone marrow transplant is the only chance Crystal has to survive this illness.
Crystal, her husband Chris, and their children Matthew and Brianna have endured the worst life has had to offer on their own with no help financially or otherwise up until this point. The bone marrow transplant Crystal needs to save her life is an expense her insurance does not cover, and one that the family cannot afford on their own. A bone marrow transplant requires a minimum stay of at least two months (with no complications) in close proximity to John Hopkins.
Months spent away from her husband and children that will require 24/7 care. Besides the expenses of regular life, they will incur the additional expenses of care for Crystal and child care with her away. Other expenses include lodging at John Hopkins, travel and miscellaneous expenses such as co-pays and medication. There is also the expense associated with her bone marrow donor. Insurance doesn't cover the cost of care for the person so selflessly donating their bone marrow.
Crystal and her family have never asked for any help even though this illness has left them broke and living under the threat of losing their home.
“It's very hard to worry about your own well-being when you have to worry about the care of your children,” said Crystal’s friend, which is why, on Crystal’s behalf, she is asking the community to contribute.
“Without financial assistance Crystal will not be able to get the bone marrow transplant, and without it, she will die,” said a friend. "Please help save Crystal's life; every little bit helps, so please donate anything you are capable of giving; her very life depends on it.”
Those interested in donating or sharing can visit her GoFundMe page.
The webpage has raised $5,000 for Crystal thus far. The Denton family is attempting to raise close to $50,00o. Crystal's surgery is scheduled for this May.
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