Service Technician Shane Wright paid forward $500 to 13 year old Fountain Inn resident Kieli and her mother Lisa Bukacek.
Kieli has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare and aggressive cancer that requires aggressive treatments. Kieli’s oncologist said her case was one of just 3 in the nation that had presented with symptoms of joint pain, nausea, enlarged lymph nodes and lactation.
Kieli’s aunt, Amber Patterson Sales, organized a GoFundMe account on behalf of her niece and wrote, “I am starting this go fund me account to help my sister, Lisa Patterson Bukacek. She is a single mom so of course that means single income. Kieli’s treatment will continue for 6 months minimum. She will go through 5 rounds of chemotherapy (and) each round will last approximately 28 days.”
She added, “We would love to fill the walls of her hospital room with cards and sweet messages. Gift cards for gas, restaurants, grub hub or grocery stores would be helpful. There is a mini fridge in Kieli’s room. But if you can spare a few dollars to help put Lisa at ease while she is here with Kieli that would be awesome too.”
Kieli’s address is Kieli Bukacek/5A, Greenville Memorial Hospital, 701 Grove Rd., Greenville, S.C., 29605.
Also, blood donations can be made at The Blood Connection in Kieli’s name. Donations will give her a credit at the blood bank. This will help with expenses Kieli will need several transfusions and platelets throughout treatment.
Shane Wright, who went to school with Kieli’s mom Lisa, said “This case caught my heart – I’ve got kids too. Kieli is a true warrior and has endured a lot. We are praying for you and the family. In this family, no one fights alone.”
For updates or to contribute, visit gofundme.com/f/kicking-cancer-with-kieli.
The Pay It Forward program began in 2015.
Every Laurens Electric Cooperative employee is entered into a random drawing to receive $500 to pay forward in any way they choose. Each month a new name is drawn, and the employee then has one month to apply the funds toward their own act of kindness.
This initiative is budget-neutral; the funds will come from Laurens Electric’s charity events, which employee volunteers make possible.
Employees and the community will enable individual employees to help individuals in the community, and that’s a win-win situation.