Search Results

Will

My son Will was a vibrant, active, and typical junior in high school. He was living life to the fullest with a rigorous class schedule, working, training for his upcoming senior year of football, participating in many outdoor activities, and enjoying time with family and friends. On April 24, 2024, Will went in for wisdom teeth removal, and the oral surgeon had difficulty getting his bleeding under control. In a few short hours, including an ambulance ride to the hospital, Will would be diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Boyd

Greetings from a friend in Canada! I am a two-time blood cancer survivor and marathon runner all because of the love of friends in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)! I had a life saving stem cell transplant from an American Naval Serviceman named Nathan Barnes who was in Japan when he saved my life. (2011-12). My stem cell transplant was May 2012!! A year after my stem cell transplant a friend took me to Alaska and ran a marathon for me with Team in Training! (2013).

Elijah

Diagnosed with ALL in 5th grade, my hopes for a normal and healthy childhood were quickly shattered. The impact on my family began as devastation but has since metamorphosed into restoration, healing, and a closeness beyond this world (bonus, my brother and I have never fought since the day I received the news of my disease).

Julie

My twin sister, Julie was first diagnosed with leukemia when we were 25. Thankfully, she battled through and was in remission after a year of treatment. It was a rough battle for our family, but especially her. Newly married, her and her husband had just started to build a house and were hoping to start a family. Fortunately, she had great annual checkups and after 13 years, she was declared cured.

Nancy

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008. For a year, I was in the “watch and wait” category with no treatment until the disease progressed. In April 2009 I progressed to “active disease” and began treatments followed by an autologous stem cell transplant in January 2010.

Katelin (KiNG)

In April 2017, Katelin, also known as KiNG, went to see a doctor for persistent severe headaches and dizziness. A blood test revealed that she had phase III chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). For someone Katelin’s age, a normal white blood cell count is between 5,000 to 10,000 — Katelin’s was 660,000. She was told it was a miracle she was alive and didn’t experience a stroke or any internal organ damage.

Liam

In April 2015, Liam was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) when he was just one-and-a-half years old. After living in the hospital for four months of intensive treatment, Liam went into remission in July 2015!

He got back to an active life and was enjoying being a normal kid. He had the honor of being LLS’s 2016 Honored Hero. He and his mother attended many LLS events to share his story. Liam was set to kick off the Light The Night walk but unfortunately, Liam relapsed right before the event and had to endure more chemo.

Ethan & Sienna

Ethan was just five years old when he was diagnosed with very high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The following years involved countless hospital visits, chemotherapy, bone marrow aspirates, lumbar punctures, steroids, and blood product transfusions.

Lance

I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia September 2014 at age 13. I had just started 8th grade. 1st symptoms-to-diagnosis took only 4 days. I didn’t get a chance to think about things; we were busy trying to save my life.

Michelle

In 2011, I had started graduate school, had a two-year-old son, and ran a small business with my then husband. I was very fatigued and having night sweats and itchiness. I thought I was just stressed, and I was, but after several months of trying to get health insurance and then many tests, it was confirmed that I had Hodgkin lymphoma.

Rocco

Our little Roc was diagnosed with leukemia on June 30. We immediately started treatment at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital on July 1 where Rocco was given a port, bone marrow biopsy, and his first intrathecal chemo treatment. After a 7-day hospital stay, we were able to come home and continue weekly treatments. Unfortunately, on August 2 we received news that Rocco’s body was not responding to treatment the way we all hoped he would.

Brielle

Brielle, a beloved daughter, sister, and aunt, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on June 8, 2022, at just 22 years old.​​ Given her age and history of ideal health, the news was more than shocking.

Things began to move quickly after the initial diagnosis. Plans were made for her to begin chemotherapy in Augusta, Georgia, which was a four-hour commute from home. Her family pulled together to provide financial and emotional support. Following a successful round of chemo, Brielle’s brother donated bone marrow for a bone marrow transplant.

George

I am a 72-year-old retired Information Technology professional. I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in June 2002 and remain in active treatment today. Over the last 22 years, I have had more than 700 trips for doctor visits, treatments, lab test, emergency room, hospitalizations, and pharmacy. My biggest challenge over the years is managing the cost of premiums, medical treatment, drugs, travel, and medical appliances. I found multiple resources that stepped in to assist me with my financial challenges related to my CLL.

Joseph

I came down with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2006 which transformed into an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma (NHL) in 2013. In 2015, I received an umbilical cord transplant at Penn Medicine Hospital in Philadelphia which was successful. This month, I celebrate nine years post-transplant. 

Carlos

I was diagnosed in September 2017 with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and by May 2019, I was told of the need for a bone marrow transplant (BMT). And even though they told me about a "new life after transplant," my life has completely changed. I could not go back to work because of graft vs. host disease (GVHD) and multiple infections during and post-transplant. I’m still on immunosuppressants and chemo-brain with cognitive issues. It has been very hard not to return to practicing Family Medicine since my patients could literally kill me.

Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion using cells donated by healthy volunteers can help replace red cells, platelets and other blood components. Some people with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood diseases or disorders such as hereditary anemias and aplastic anemia need periodic blood transfusions for several reasons:

Zoie

My mom thought it was the flu, maybe mono. After I spent five days lying in bed, she took me to an Urgent Care Clinic. I knew it was something far more serious after they called an ambulance. My mom wouldn’t believe the Urgent Care doctor when he told her he suspected it was cancer. Unfortunately, he was right. I was 11 when I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Chancez

Hey, my name is Chancez (ironically, I was blessed with many chances last year). I became a part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) community last year and was provided financial support. I was also presented with love, care, and daily reminders of all the support that was available to me to get me through such a rough period in my life. A friend of mine suggested that I share my story to help others in our community, especially young adults who are in the same predicament I was once in.

Bob

It has been 69 days since I sat in the hospital bed next to my father as he passed away from the horrors only a disease like leukemia could bring. It has been 69 days since my father passed away and "Into the Mystic" still plays on repeat in my head as it re-played over and over again in that hospital room as we urged him to go, that it was okay. For those who tell me that only time will make this better, 69 days still feels like yesterday, 69 days and I am still bargaining, pleading to see my dad on the couch when I open my front door.

Berenise

On October 22, 2013, as a senior in college, I was spontaneously diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).  I was immediately admitted into the hospital and began chemotherapy. The doctors basically said, "good luck”, as I received the routine treatment that has a survival rate of 25%. My life was flipped upside down in a matter of days. I went from planning what I was going to do after college, to deciding if I would want people at my funeral to wear black or be colorful. I didn't know whether to cry, scream, or be angry. 

Cindy

Our church choir had put on a big Easter program in 2002, lots of practices and multiple performances. After the fact, several, including me, came down with an upper respiratory infection. All my friends got better, but I didn’t. Then I started having low energy to the point that I couldn’t do my daily workouts. Next came the appearance of big, ugly bruises on my legs. At that point, I thought I was anemic. When I called to get a doctor’s appointment, the only opening was with his nurse practitioner.

Kristy

On May 24, 2020, at 23 years old, I started getting dizzy out of nowhere. I thought maybe I needed to eat and sleep better, but it got worse. I went to the ER, and they said I was anemic and sent me home. I bought a bunch of food that’s supposed to help anemia, but I kept getting worse, to the point where I couldn’t get up to eat. I would throw up and get dizzy and almost pass out. I lost color, and my lips turned pale. I lost weight, and I pretty much looked like a zombie. Then one day I couldn’t get up, and I sat in the same spot for hours.

Yarnall Family

To be of service to others comes naturally to the Yarnalls. Bob is a 25-year Marine Corps veteran and a teacher. Kim is a chiropractor for over 22 years.

Michael

I’m a 12-year survivor of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I was diagnosed on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

My oncologist was Dr. Ian Flinn. The first 24 hours following my diagnosis were very harrowing. I was ground transported from Murfreesboro to Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Nashville where they had a gurney awaiting me curbside. A nurse by the name of Regina stayed with me for almost the entire duration of my first eight hours.

Siri

Siri is the most resilient, loving, inspiring, authentic, and brilliant woman I have ever met. She lives each day to the fullest and is filled with gratitude for all life and for every breath she takes. Her joy, light, and exuberance illuminate all around her. She is a two-time World Champion Triathlete, a top 10 global speaker, a best-selling author, a Tony Robbins keynote speaker at his worldwide events, saves horses from abuse, and so much more. Her life's mission is to help others. Here's a very condensed version of her story.