Meet our young warriors

Meet Dariann – Leukemia Warrior

“Without the help of the NCCS it would be difficult for us to afford to get her to all of her treatments and appointments,” Melanie said. “My daughter and I appreciate this help from NCCS more than we can express.”

To say Dariann’s leukemia diagnosis was shocking is an understatement.  The 16 year-old did not have any symptoms and had not been sick. It was discovered during a routine blood screening. “We were consumed by shock, worry and to be honest, a sense of denial at first,” shared Melanie, Dariann’s mom.  “We had no idea how difficult this path was going to be.”

Dariann lived in a small Colorado town that did not have the high-level of care she needed.  Her treatment began in Denver, which was five hours away from home – one way! Dariann and her mom spent two months in Denver for which caused them to miss Thanksgiving and Christmas with their family.

Fearlessly, Dariann endured countless bone marrow biopsies, weeks of chemotherapy and other procedures. Dariann’s hospital stay was followed by chemotherapy twice a month.  The chemo was in Denver and required her to be in the hospital for a week each time. When Dariann was not being treated in Denver, they drove to a neighboring town that is almost an hour away for more treatment. “We feel as if we live in our car,” said Melanie at the time. “It gets exhausting, not to mention expensive.”

The NCCS’ Transportation Assistance Fund was there to help Dariann get to lifesaving treatment and provided emergency assistance to help Melanie keep up with their utility bills. “Without the help of the NCCS it would be difficult for us to afford to get her to all of her treatments and appointments,” Melanie said. “My daughter and I appreciate this help from NCCS more than we can express.”