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She has three weeks to live if she does not get an infusion of healthy stem cells from a donor to fight the rare form of cancer she has battled since April.

Hulsey lies in her hospital bed at Stanford University Medical Center weakened by her fourth round of aggressive chemotherapy and waits. She waits to come home to the Central Valley and her 7-year-old son, Michael. She waits to hear word that a matching donor has been found.

It started with a small lump on her neck in April. Nothing big, she thought, she'll have the doctor take a look. The first biopsy was inconclusive, she says.

The second one revealed she had Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare malignant disease and a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma is similar to leukemia. But in Burkitt's, the tumors double in size every 16 hours and can spread rapidly, making a healthy person critically ill in four to six weeks.

Hulsey's hope lies in an infusion of stem cells from a matching donor. There was a 25% chance that she would match her brother or sister. But, like most people needing a transplant, components of their cells did not match.

Hulsey and Lianne Atkinson met as two 18-year-old camp counselors at Camp Tulequoia in 1990. They hit it off right away.

"She was the life of the party," Atkinson says. "She was the one with this big smile, very loving and very giving. We became close friends really fast."

VISALIA -- Blood drives in the name of a Visalia woman battling a rare form of cancer and in need of a bone marrow transplant are popping up across the Central Valley, including one today here.

Claire Hulsey was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma -- a rare malignant disease and a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma is similar to leukemia. But in Burkitt's, the tumors double in size every 16 hours and can spread rapidly, making a healthy person critically ill in four to six weeks.

Hulsey's doctors at Stanford University Medical Center have been trying to stave off the cancer with round after round of chemotherapy in an effort to buy the mother of a 7-year-old son more time so a bone marrow donor can be found. She's had dozens of blood transfusions and is still looking for a compatible marrow donor.

Her story moved hundreds of people to contact BloodSource in Sacramento and volunteer to register for the national marrow donor program, donor officials said.

Former co-workers at the Visalia YMCA organized today's blood drive on Tulare Avenue, hoping to help someone they said was a great person to be around. Hulsey once worked at the YMCA. A blood drive in Fresno last week drew 46 donors, many of whom just stopped by after seeing signs on Herndon and Palm avenues, said Lynn Stone of the Central California Blood Center.

"Claire was just overwhelmed by all the support," said longtime friend Lianne Atkinson. "She's hopeful that even if a donor can't be found for her that all the people signing up to be donors will eventually help someone else live."

But Hulsey's health has not improved, and doctors are now concerned about the recent discovery of another tumor, Atkinson said. "It's just a day-to-day diagnosis."

Though Claire Hulsey, 32, has been confined to a hospital room for the past month, her story has in-spired many to take action.

Since being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on April 1, Hulsey had been shuttling between her home in Visalia and the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto for treatment. She is back home after the latest round of chemotherapy - her sixth - to recover and spend time with her 6-year-old son, Michael.

"It's been a huge eye-opener for me," said Hulsey, who worked as a respiratory therapist. "I was so surprised at how many people have done things for me. People I don't even know have organized blood drives. It's like a little tiny pillow landed on a lake and this huge wave has come out."

Hulsey has Burkitt's lymphoma, a disease that afflicts about 200 people in the United States each year, according to Mark Lee, an oncologist at Stanford. It occurs when certain white blood cells mutate and multiply out of control, crippling the immune system's ability to fight infection and disease.

"Burkitt's lymphoma is one of the fastest and most aggressive cancers, period," Lee said. "Patients can go from being well to extremely ill within weeks."

To give blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds and be in general good health. There is no fee.

To be put on the blood marrow registry, donors must be between 18 and 60 years old and in general good health. The fee depends on funding available and can range from free to $65. This service is only available at the Visalia and Fresno offices.

For more information, call the Central California Blood Center at 224-2900 or visit www.cencalblood.org.

VISALIA -- Claire Hulsey, the Visalia woman who battled cancer and was waiting for a bone marrow transplant, died Friday morning at her home.

Ms. Hulsey's story moved hundreds of people across the Central Valley to call local blood centers and the national marrow program to volunteer to either donate blood or register as marrow donors.

"What was amazing to her was the outreach of the entire area," said friend Keri Litchfield. "Complete strangers came out -- she was very appreciative. She was very touched by the willingness of people to help a stranger."

Doctors diagnosed Ms. Hulsey with Burkitt's lymphoma in April -- a rare malignant disease and a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma is similar to leukemia. But in Burkitt's, the tumors double in size every 16 hours.

Ms. Hulsey's doctors at Stanford University Medical Center tried to stave off the cancer with several rounds of chemotherapy in an effort to buy her more time while she waited for a compatible marrow donor. But none was found.

"Her story affected many people in the area," said longtime friend Lianne Atkinson. "We're all going to miss her."

Funeral services are being scheduled for next week in Visalia, Atkinson said, and the family is arranging to set up a fund for Ms. Hulsey's son, Michael.

Visalia resident Claire Hulsey, who worked to raise awareness on the importance of the bone marrow registry, lost her four-month battle with cancer on Friday. She was 32 years old.

A respiratory therapist and a 1989 graduate of Mt. Whitney High School, Hulsey was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer, on April 1. While she was alive, blood drives were held in her name to encourage people to register on the bone marrow registry. Although a bone marrow match for Hulsey was not found, her friend Cristina Mendonsa-Garaventa considers the collection efforts a success.

"Claire was the first one to say, `even if this doesn't help me, it could help someone else,' " she said. "Even if one life is saved through the collections, if we make a difference in getting the word out, it would be a great way to honor Claire's memory."

"I am still a little bit not knowing what to say," Mendonsa-Garaventa said. "Our hope was somehow she would pull through."

Hulsey and Mendonsa-Garaventa met when they worked at YMCA's Camp Tulequoia in 1988. The Burlingame resident re-members Hulsey as a generous friend who was passionate about life.

"She had a thirst for life," Mendonsa-Garaventa said. "She was unconditional in her friendships. She was friends with just about anyone. Her interest in other people is what made her just shine."

Even in her death, Hulsey was still bringing people together. Mendonsa-Garaventa and her husband had created an online forum for Hulsey where friends could chat and get updates on her status. They plan to continue offering a forum to give friends "a place to share their thoughts."

"It's a tragedy that she passed away, but I think it's so amazing that people who haven't spoken in many years came together," Mendonsa-Garaventa said. "To me, there's some magic in it."

She is survived by her 6-year-old son, Michael, her mother, Linda, and stepfather, Donald Denny, and nine siblings. An educational account has been opened for Michael at Bank of Visalia, 200 S. Court St., Visalia, CA 93291

Claire Cecilia is the beloved daughter of Linda, and the stepdaughter of Donald Denny of Visalia. She is survived by the person she loved the most in her life, her son, Michael Hulsey, who will be seven years old on Aug. 24. She also leaves her sister, Miriam, and brothers, Matthew and Charles; step sisters, Carol, Cheryl, Deanna, and Marlene and step brothers, Marvin and Tim Denny.

Born in Fresno on Sept. 27, 1971, she moved with her family to Visalia in 1986. She graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 1989 and became a Respiratory Therapist and a Medical Transcriptionist.

As a young adult, her most wonderful experiences were with the staff and campers at the YMCA Camp Tulequoia. She began working there at the age of 15 1/2, and continued these wonderful friendships the rest of her life. She was courageous in her battle with epilepsy and cancer. Her family expresses heartfelt thanks to all the many dear friends who visited her in Stanford Medical Center during her treatment of cancer, and continued to visit daily at her home to bring love, laughter, good memories and comfort to Claire and her family.

Visitation will be noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Hadley Funeral Chapel, Visalia. Graveside services will be 9 a.m. Tuesday at Visalia District Cemetery. At her request, in lieu of flowers, Claire asked that an educational account be opened for her son, Michael. The Claire Hulsey Memorial Account has been established in her memory at Bank of Visalia, 200 S. Court St., Visalia, CA 93291. The family wishes to express their thanks and gratitude to Optimal Hospice for all their care and support.


	A collection of articles written in the local media regarding Claire's fight with Burkitt's Lymphoma Visalia mother in need of stem-cell donor Claire Hulsey, who has a rare form of cancer, has just weeks to find a match to save her life. By Jason D. Plemons The Fresno Bee (Updated Tuesday, July 6, 2004, 10:21 AM) VISALIA -- Claire Hulsey is dying. She has three weeks to live if she does not get an infusion of healthy stem cells from a donor to fight the rare form of cancer she has battled since April. Hulsey lies in her hospital bed at Stanford University Medical Center weakened by her fourth round of aggressive chemotherapy and waits. She waits to come home to the Central Valley and her 7-year-old son, Michael. She waits to hear word that a matching donor has been found. It started with a small lump on her neck in April. Nothing big, she thought, she'll have the doctor take a look. The first biopsy was inconclusive, she says. The second one revealed she had Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare malignant disease and a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma is similar to leukemia. But in Burkitt's, the tumors double in size every 16 hours and can spread rapidly, making a healthy person critically ill in four to six weeks. Hulsey's hope lies in an infusion of stem cells from a matching donor. There was a 25% chance that she would match her brother or sister. But, like most people needing a transplant, components of their cells did not match. Now the search is on for a match, and a friend lost for five years is back at her side. Hulsey and Lianne Atkinson met as two 18-year-old camp counselors at Camp Tulequoia in 1990. They hit it off right away. "She was the life of the party," Atkinson says. "She was the one with this big smile, very loving and very giving. We became close friends really fast." Blood donors turn out to aid Visalia woman with cancer By Jason D. Plemons The Bee (Updated Friday, July 23, 2004, 9:08 AM) VISALIA -- Blood drives in the name of a Visalia woman battling a rare form of cancer and in need of a bone marrow transplant are popping up across the Central Valley, including one today here. Claire Hulsey was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma -- a rare malignant disease and a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma is similar to leukemia. But in Burkitt's, the tumors double in size every 16 hours and can spread rapidly, making a healthy person critically ill in four to six weeks. Hulsey's doctors at Stanford University Medical Center have been trying to stave off the cancer with round after round of chemotherapy in an effort to buy the mother of a 7-year-old son more time so a bone marrow donor can be found. She's had dozens of blood transfusions and is still looking for a compatible marrow donor. Her story moved hundreds of people to contact BloodSource in Sacramento and volunteer to register for the national marrow donor program, donor officials said. Former co-workers at the Visalia YMCA organized today's blood drive on Tulare Avenue, hoping to help someone they said was a great person to be around. Hulsey once worked at the YMCA. A blood drive in Fresno last week drew 46 donors, many of whom just stopped by after seeing signs on Herndon and Palm avenues, said Lynn Stone of the Central California Blood Center. "It went really, really well," she said. "It was just unreal the amount of people who came out." Stone said at least five people also registered to become marrow donors. "Claire was just overwhelmed by all the support," said longtime friend Lianne Atkinson. "She's hopeful that even if a donor can't be found for her that all the people signing up to be donors will eventually help someone else live." But Hulsey's health has not improved, and doctors are now concerned about the recent discovery of another tumor, Atkinson said. "It's just a day-to-day diagnosis." The reporter can be reached at jplemons@fresnobee.com or (559) 622-2409. Visalia Times Delta July 30, 2004 Section: Local Page: 1C Woman inspires marrow donors Patricia Ho Staff Hundreds have offered to help cancer patient By Patricia Jiayi Ho, Staff writer Though Claire Hulsey, 32, has been confined to a hospital room for the past month, her story has in-spired many to take action. Since being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on April 1, Hulsey had been shuttling between her home in Visalia and the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto for treatment. She is back home after the latest round of chemotherapy - her sixth - to recover and spend time with her 6-year-old son, Michael. "It's been a huge eye-opener for me," said Hulsey, who worked as a respiratory therapist. "I was so surprised at how many people have done things for me. People I don't even know have organized blood drives. It's like a little tiny pillow landed on a lake and this huge wave has come out." Hulsey has Burkitt's lymphoma, a disease that afflicts about 200 people in the United States each year, according to Mark Lee, an oncologist at Stanford. It occurs when certain white blood cells mutate and multiply out of control, crippling the immune system's ability to fight infection and disease. "Burkitt's lymphoma is one of the fastest and most aggressive cancers, period," Lee said. "Patients can go from being well to extremely ill within weeks." In Hulsey's case, she first discovered a lump in her See Donor/4C Getting involved Local donor centers: 1515 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, 625-3121 93 N. Main St., Suite D, Porterville, 781-5532 To give blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds and be in general good health. There is no fee. To be put on the blood marrow registry, donors must be between 18 and 60 years old and in general good health. The fee depends on funding available and can range from free to $65. This service is only available at the Visalia and Fresno offices. Information For more information, call the Central California Blood Center at 224-2900 or visit www.cencalblood.org. For information on the national marrow donor program, visit www.marrow .org. Visalian dies awaiting bone marrow transplant By Jason D. Plemons The Fresno Bee (Updated Saturday, August 14, 2004, 8:06 AM) VISALIA -- Claire Hulsey, the Visalia woman who battled cancer and was waiting for a bone marrow transplant, died Friday morning at her home. Ms. Hulsey's story moved hundreds of people across the Central Valley to call local blood centers and the national marrow program to volunteer to either donate blood or register as marrow donors. "What was amazing to her was the outreach of the entire area," said friend Keri Litchfield. "Complete strangers came out -- she was very appreciative. She was very touched by the willingness of people to help a stranger." Doctors diagnosed Ms. Hulsey with Burkitt's lymphoma in April -- a rare malignant disease and a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma is similar to leukemia. But in Burkitt's, the tumors double in size every 16 hours. Ms. Hulsey's doctors at Stanford University Medical Center tried to stave off the cancer with several rounds of chemotherapy in an effort to buy her more time while she waited for a compatible marrow donor. But none was found. "Her story affected many people in the area," said longtime friend Lianne Atkinson. "We're all going to miss her." Funeral services are being scheduled for next week in Visalia, Atkinson said, and the family is arranging to set up a fund for Ms. Hulsey's son, Michael. The reporter can be reached at jplemons@fresnobee.com or (559) 622-2409. Visalia Times Delta August 17, 2004 Section: Local Page: 1C Bone marrow registry proponent dies Patricia Ho Staff By Patricia Jiayi Ho Staff writer Visalia resident Claire Hulsey, who worked to raise awareness on the importance of the bone marrow registry, lost her four-month battle with cancer on Friday. She was 32 years old. A respiratory therapist and a 1989 graduate of Mt. Whitney High School, Hulsey was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer, on April 1. While she was alive, blood drives were held in her name to encourage people to register on the bone marrow registry. Although a bone marrow match for Hulsey was not found, her friend Cristina Mendonsa-Garaventa considers the collection efforts a success. "Claire was the first one to say, `even if this doesn't help me, it could help someone else,' " she said. "Even if one life is saved through the collections, if we make a difference in getting the word out, it would be a great way to honor Claire's memory." Matt Dick, Hulsey's brother, agreed. "That's the good that came out of it," he said. Though Hulsey's cancer responded to chemotherapy treatments, it came back too quickly each time. "I am still a little bit not knowing what to say," Mendonsa-Garaventa said. "Our hope was somehow she would pull through." Hulsey and Mendonsa-Garaventa met when they worked at YMCA's Camp Tulequoia in 1988. The Burlingame resident re-members Hulsey as a generous friend who was passionate about life. "She had a thirst for life," Mendonsa-Garaventa said. "She was unconditional in her friendships. She was friends with just about anyone. Her interest in other people is what made her just shine." Even in her death, Hulsey was still bringing people together. Mendonsa-Garaventa and her husband had created an online forum for Hulsey where friends could chat and get updates on her status. They plan to continue offering a forum to give friends "a place to share their thoughts." "It's a tragedy that she passed away, but I think it's so amazing that people who haven't spoken in many years came together," Mendonsa-Garaventa said. "To me, there's some magic in it." She is survived by her 6-year-old son, Michael, her mother, Linda, and stepfather, Donald Denny, and nine siblings. An educational account has been opened for Michael at Bank of Visalia, 200 S. Court St., Visalia, CA 93291 Obituary Aug 14 2004, 01:47 PM Claire Cecilia is the beloved daughter of Linda, and the stepdaughter of Donald Denny of Visalia. She is survived by the person she loved the most in her life, her son, Michael Hulsey, who will be seven years old on Aug. 24. She also leaves her sister, Miriam, and brothers, Matthew and Charles; step sisters, Carol, Cheryl, Deanna, and Marlene and step brothers, Marvin and Tim Denny. Born in Fresno on Sept. 27, 1971, she moved with her family to Visalia in 1986. She graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 1989 and became a Respiratory Therapist and a Medical Transcriptionist. As a young adult, her most wonderful experiences were with the staff and campers at the YMCA Camp Tulequoia. She began working there at the age of 15 1/2, and continued these wonderful friendships the rest of her life. She was courageous in her battle with epilepsy and cancer. Her family expresses heartfelt thanks to all the many dear friends who visited her in Stanford Medical Center during her treatment of cancer, and continued to visit daily at her home to bring love, laughter, good memories and comfort to Claire and her family. Visitation will be noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Hadley Funeral Chapel, Visalia. Graveside services will be 9 a.m. Tuesday at Visalia District Cemetery. At her request, in lieu of flowers, Claire asked that an educational account be opened for her son, Michael. The Claire Hulsey Memorial Account has been established in her memory at Bank of Visalia, 200 S. Court St., Visalia, CA 93291. The family wishes to express their thanks and gratitude to Optimal Hospice for all their care and support.