Inspirational Stories

I was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) on February 13, 2017. I went to MD Anderson since I was already living in Houston, Texas. I was a pastor and counselor for 24 years. I was able to use my counseling skills with other patients as I was going through my inpatient treatment. I introduced patients to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and AFLAC, as well as provided a listening ear. My life was not without troubles. My brother took his life the same day as my diagnosis. After my first relapse, my wife of 24 years passed from stomach cancer in May 2019. In December 2019, I received a stem cell transplant at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. My doctor in Texas had trained my doctor in St. Louis years before. I survived many complications and was given a 20% or less chance of survival five different times. Three years later, I type this cancer-free preparing to get back to my calling of helping others. LLS has been very supportive through these years and continues to help whenever I need the support.