I received a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) at age 24 right before the pandemic started. I finished chemo in April 2020 and have been cancer-free ever since. I’ve participated in Light The Night (LTN) since 2029 and have raised over $100,000.
Lana's journey with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) began in 1991 when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Overcoming numerous physical and cognitive challenges associated with her illness, Lana emerged as a dedicated advocate for cancer awareness and support.
In my junior year of college, I felt so sick that I would sleep through online classes, throwing up every couple of days. I thought I was just stressed and not sleeping enough at night. However, a month later, a relentless cough took over. It was nonstop ― cough after cough and nap after nap.
In April 2023, I started to notice that I was having trouble breathing. I was a perfectly healthy 34-year-old woman who did kickboxing three times a week and was very physically active. I ended up going to a doctor who, for three months, misdiagnosed me with asthma and acid reflux. After about three visits to his office, I was crying to him, begging to be referred to a specialist.
Spring Break of my second year of medical school marked the beginning of an unexpected chapter in my life. What I had initially brushed off as the flu led me to the emergency room, only to discover that I had acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).
When I was in fourth grade in 2015, my older brother Nate (a freshman in high school at the time) was rushed by ambulance to the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital. His spleen was holding 10 times the normal amount of red blood cells. This led to the discovery of his cancer. He was later diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Light The Night (LTN) has allowed us to honor the memory of my niece Breyana.