Search Results
Jordyn
In September 2013, our six-year-old daughter, Jordyn was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma— a diagnosis no parent ever wants to hear. Within a day of diagnosis, she already started chemotherapy. Numerous lumbar punctures and blood transfusions soon followed. Our life had changed in an instant.
Jordyn persevered through the hair loss, many overnight stays at the hospital, and frequent doctor visits for more than two years. Jordyn is our hero of strength. She has always kept a positive attitude during this battle— she calls it her fight with "Blob".
Lana
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. She became an integral part of the Orange County LLS community, participating in various programs such as Honored Hero, Light The Night, and So Cal Cancer Connection, among others.
AnnaKate
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.
Eva
In 2014, as a 19-year-old sophomore in college, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). After two years of suffering from a mystery illness, I finally had answers; my itchy feet, night sweats, frequent infections, and shooting pain all snapped into place with a cancer diagnosis. I called all of my closest friends and packed my bags. I’d moved 3,000 miles for college, and traveled all the way back home — Los Angeles to Boston — for treatment. Next up would be six months of ABVD chemotherapy, known to be very effective and very unpleasant.
Kristen
In the fall of 2012, Kristen Comer noticed her energy level wasn't as high as it had been, but she thought nothing of it. It wasn’t until the fall of 2013 when she had unidentifiable bruises on her body and no change in her energy levels, that her general practitioner drew labs to determine a diagnosis. After three panels of blood work, Kristen was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on December 31, 2013.
Cayden
In April 2020, three-year-old Cayden began experiencing leg pain and developed an unusual limp that alarmed his mother, Courtney. Soon, the pain progressed to a stiff neck and loss of appetite. Just two weeks later, after multiple tests and doctor appointments, Courtney and her husband would hear the words that every parent fears, "your child has cancer". Cayden was diagnosed with a high-risk form of blood cancer, Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Faith
I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) my senior year in high school. I went through 10 months of intense chemotherapy, and I am now in remission/maintenance.
Doug
In July 2014, my defibrillator fired while I was at a diner. Upon testing at the hospital I found out I have acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Much to my surprise, it was discovered by a simple blood test.
Laura
My mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in August 2022. Over the course of a year, she underwent chemotherapy, caught COVID-19, underwent CAR-T therapy, and fought through many respiratory infections. My mom was a fighter. She wasn’t going to let a cancer diagnosis slow her down. She wanted to live. Between me and my sisters, we all took turns taking my mom to all her appointments.
Wendy
I am a 3-time Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivor. I underwent two stem cell transplants. The first transplant was my own stem cells, the second transplant was a donor transplant. My baby sister was my donor (she was a 6/6 match); I was very lucky. I underwent three years of radiation and chemotherapy and have been in remission now 12 years. Since then, I have gotten involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I first started by creating a fashion show to raise money for LLS.
Armaan
In January 2014, Armaan celebrated his 5th birthday. He was tested for anemia a few days later at the urging of his pediatrician as he looked a little pale. Our world was rocked several hours later when the pediatrician called to notify us that Armaan had leukemia.
Armaan was immediately admitted into Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford where he had a PICC line inserted into his arm and started his first round of chemotherapy. He is now in remission although he faces two more years of treatment to help ensure he doesn't relapse.
Miranda
A little over a year ago, I finished a treatment that saved my life and gave me purpose. In October 2016, I was diagnosed with stage IV of Hodgkin lymphoma and was fortunate enough to receive medical care that allowed me to conquer my cancer journey.
Amy
My story begins on Christmas Eve 2008. My daughter was a 8th grader and was singing her first solo during Christmas Eve mass. I was sick!
Thomas/TJ
This picture is of my brother and my son. Both fought valiantly from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and Hodgkin's lymphoma respectively.
It started in 2009 when my son, Thomas came home from his freshman year in college. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and was treated right away. He went through the regular protocol which lead to the next level and then trial drugs, radiation, and autonomous stem cell transplant.
Tony
It was 40 years ago that Tony was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at age 2. Back then, the disease wasn't very well understood, and the technologies and treatments didn't have a great deal to offer. It was a rough road, but Tony managed to make it through with the help of his mother and many experimental drugs. He went through chemotherapy, radiation, spinal taps, and hair loss, and at age 12, his doctors couldn't find any trace of leukemia.
Brianna
"He was the king of positivity" is what Dr. McCarthy at Roswell Park said to me the day after my Dad passed away from complications of GVHD or graft-versus-host disease. My Dad was a leader, someone who was always willing to help others, and always had a smile on his face. Not only was I his co-caregiver throughout his cancer journey, but he was also my caregiver during mine.
Amanda
As a popular entertainment anchor on the “Good Day LA” morning show in Los Angeles, Amanda Salas has always kept busy. But after she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2019, she has had to refocus all her energy and time on fighting for her life.
Grace
Volunteering for an organization was part of my senior capstone in the Spring of 2021. I wanted to volunteer for an organization that was for the long term and meaningful to me. One of my best friends, who is also my cousin, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2020. I felt so helpless and also didn't know anything about AML, so I turned to LLS to educate myself. LLS is an integral factor and I wanted to do my part. I became a story volunteer, where I had the opportunity to interview and speak with other volunteers and supporters.
Rhonda
In 2012, I was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I had 10 rounds of radiation and six treatments of chemotherapy (R-Chop). It was a very rough journey, however, by the grace of God, the love of family, and of course, the wonderful doctors and advances in cancer treatments I persevered through.
Peter
I do not aspire to be a hero, I just want other patients to realize that any one of us can have a long life after receiving such a horrible diagnosis. Times may be difficult but anything is possible.
On September 5, 2015, I celebrated the 25th anniversary of my autologous bone marrow transplant for non-Hodgkin lymphoma that took place at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I want to thank my wife, children, and the many doctors, nurses, and technicians who treated me and continue to look after me in my senior citizen years.
Michelle
I'm Michelle, and I'm a childhood cancer survivor. I'm going to be 43 in a few days. I was 2½ when I had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) through age 5, going through it all. I received experimental chemos and radiations. I was two out of 45 children who lived. The rest died. I have relapsed over six or more times ― two leukemias, and the rest were all different cancers. I recently got tested genetically at O.H.S.U., and I have what they call a mutated gene.
Anne
My story with leukemia began in July 2016 when I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It was four months and 13 days after my wedding to my husband Eddie, and one month to the day after our vow renewal ceremony. What we didn’t realize at the time was that my body had likely been fighting for months. I thought my exhaustion was from wedding planning and running my writing business.
Dianne
When I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a nurse so I could help people. I did become a registered nurse, predominately in critical care settings. So, when you receive a disease diagnosis, you treat the problem…right? Not necessarily I have learned.
I was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). I felt as if I was tumbling down a dark, hot hole. “Not curable, treatable, lifelong”. This is “watch and wait” protocol diagnosis…an overwhelming concept…”watch and worry”, I was told, was another concept.
Katie
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on August 1, 2024, just a few weeks after getting engaged during my 31st birthday trip.
Things moved with urgency, and I’m now beginning my second round of treatment this Thursday. My hair is just starting to shed out, so I’m planning to shave it this week. I have six months of chemo to go. I’m praying that my upcoming PET scan looks great so that can stay with the plan.