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.

When my husband, NFL linebacker Elijah, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2005, shortly after retiring from the Oakland Raiders, we were stunned. Neither of us had ever heard of it.

Life with multiple myeloma became an instant roller coaster. As his caregiver I knew it was my job to learn as much as possible about what we were facing, while trying to keep things normal for our two young sons. 

Jim and Leslie Donigan have been married for almost 50 years. Currently retired with three adult children, they have both faced a cancer diagnosis, but are in remission today.

In October of 2003, Leslie was diagnosed with a stomach cancer called GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors) and was told it was terminal. But then her doctor tried a medication intended for blood cancer—and it worked.