Inspirational Stories

My name is Pilar, and I am 34 years old. I used to work for the workforce board of Philadelphia, working with youth, until I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) back in October 2020. It has been a hard battle, but I am positive and blessed to have the support of my family and friends. Additionally, I was very fortunate my sister, Marcela, was a match to be my donor. I had my bone marrow transplant on June 1, 2021, at the University of Pennsylvania.  

One of the hardest parts of this cancer journey has been battling the hardships of no visitors and the added stress due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am very thankful to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for the updates and research regarding vaccinations as it relates to blood cancers.