Inspirational Stories

You never think it will happen to you until it does. Hearing the idea that you might have cancer was one of the darkest moments of my life. I was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in February 2023 at only 27 years old. I am a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, and a pediatric ICU nurse. I am used to taking care of patients on their worst days, but becoming a patient made a huge impact on me and made me a better nurse and advocate for patients/family/friends. 

When I had three sinus infections in three months after being on multiple antibiotics and down to 92 lbs., I knew something was wrong. On February 3, I saw my primary care provider and mentioned to her how my other doctor was concerned about my weight. My primary doctor said there wasn’t much to do about the sinus infection besides getting an X-ray to see if something else was going on, but we could do bloodwork to see if I was anemic which could explain the weight loss. 

By 6:00 p.m. on February 3, I saw my lab results on my portal and received phone calls from my primary doctor and the hematologist. As a nurse, my brain goes to the worst-case scenario when I interpret the results. The other part of this that most people don’t realize is that, as an ICU nurse, I see the worst possible situations, and unfortunately, I know keywords that physicians use when they are concerned but not completely sure what is going on. If I had not mentioned anything about my weight, I would have not had those labs done, and who knows how long I would have gone without knowing I had cancer. 

I am very thankful for my healthcare team, my husband Ian who has been my rock, and my daughter Raegan who makes me laugh even on the worst days. And to my family and friends, you have been there cheering me on during this entire journey. This journey has had many ups and downs, but my faith and relationship with God have grown more than I ever knew could happen. He was the one who made me feel at peace from the beginning even when I was scared. I am blessed to share my story with others and show them even during the dark times, you always have the man upstairs on your side.

Light The Night (LTN) was the first event I have ever been to for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). That night brought so many emotions including love, strength, sadness, and courage. The most important part of that night is knowing that you are not alone. If it wasn’t for LLS, I am not sure if they would have discovered the best treatment for APL with a 90% curable rate. I plan on continuing to take part in LTN every year and hope to bring light into someone’s life.

I am proud to say I have been in remission since March 2023, and I will complete my cancer treatment on October 26, 2023!