Search Results
James
I have leukemia/lymphoma and have been fighting this illness for seven years. I became ill in 2011 but made somewhat of a recovery until 2015 when I got really sick (upper respiratory issues) that took the medical system in Las Vegas more than a year to diagnose as leukemia. By the time I was hospitalized the first time, my white cell count was over 38,000. It took three hospitalizations before my illness was diagnosed. By the time I was diagnosed with lymphoma, my lungs had severe, unrecoverable damage, leaving me on oxygen most of the time, even during sleep.
Penny Man (Jonathan)
My name is Jonathan, but I really like to be called "The Penny Man.” I have been collecting pennies for over 15 years and then donating them to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I first started collecting in high school in 2006 when a classmate of mine passed away from leukemia. My teacher, Mrs. Jean Cassetta, started a schoolwide campaign in partnership with LLS in memory of our friend Andrew, and I never stopped saving pennies since.
Zachary
Two months after we were married, my husband was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in July 2021. I was 33 weeks pregnant with our first baby when he was admitted to St. Louis University Hospital for the next month of induction treatment. Prior to diagnosis, Zach had been experiencing fatigue and palpitations and would become winded just walking up our flight of stairs. We thought he was having residual effects from some prior illnesses that he was hospitalized for in April and May. We know now that those instances were the beginning of his immune system starting to fail.
Kayla
My journey started on November 26, 2022, just eight weeks after my wedding. I spent Thanksgiving with my family and could feel something just wasn't right. I had visited my primary care doctor a few days before to explain my symptoms of shortness of breath and my stomach feeling bloated. She stated I was young, and there was no need to worry, that it was probably just from having too much salt intake. After, being on indigestion medicine for a few days, my symptoms begin to worsen. I went to my local hospital emergency room due to my shortness of breath.
Maggie
My son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2019 at the age of four. Due to the unique nature of his presentation, he was placed in the VHR (very high risk) category and underwent three and a half years of treatment. My background is in theatre and education, but having just moved to New York, I was not working when Benjamin was diagnosed and was lucky enough to be able to devote 100% of my time to him. I spent his treatment years learning as much as I could about the disease and how I could best care for him.
Gina
I was diagnosed with CML on May 25, 2010. Up until December 16, 2013 my disease was managed by oral chemo, then unexpectedly, I went into a blast crisis and progressed to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I was told that I may not live to the end of the year unless an aggressive regimen of in-patient chemo, administered at the University of Pennsylvania hospital, was able to slow the proliferation of blast cells. Thankfully, the chemo worked and I began the preparation for a stem cell transplant. I had the stem cell transplant on May 1, 2014.
Michelle
I was originally diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome + acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) in June 2017. My first month of treatment was a breeze, and I tolerated IV chemo well. Unfortunately, the rest of my two years of treatment wasn’t as smooth. I ended up in the pediatric intensive care unit for over a month. I was experiencing methotrexate toxicity and fighting for my life. Once I started recovering, I relearned how to walk, got my strength back, and continued fighting my fight. I was in remission by August 2017 and then finished treatment in June 2019!!
Madeline
I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in June of 2022. I was feeling fine and went for a routine physical where it was discovered that my white blood cell count was very low. This was the beginning of my nightmare. I was slotted to give my husband my kidney before I was diagnosed and had to quickly find another donor. We did and he got his transplant and is doing well. I was hospitalized for 8 weeks where I received very aggressive induction chemo that left me malnourished and on death’s doorstep.
Zach
Zach Guillot was a normal, healthy, superhero-loving kid when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at age five.
Liam
One of the Boston Bruin’s biggest fans, Liam Fitzgerald garnered national recognition as the “fist bump kid” and went on to raise almost $153,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to help fight blood cancers.
Henry Jr
I was the longest leukemia patient on G111 at the Cleveland Clinic. I spent 135 days on the floor fighting every day. I was there so long that when they could not find a way to get my numbers back up, we would call it Ground Hog Day. Every day for about a month, nothing would change. Finally they said that they can keep me alive like this for only nine months, and I have used five of them already. It was time for a bone marrow transplant.
A. Timothy Lunsford-Stevens JD
In 1970, I was playing baseball in high school as a freshman, playing second base. A bully made a hit and ran from first to second base, tackling me. I got into a fight with him because of the pain I was feeling in my left hand. After the fight, I needed to go to the hospital. In setting my broken hand, they also did a blood test. The results showed why my hand was so fragile; I had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I had chemotherapy but no radiation or other treatment. I lived in Georgia and went to MD Anderson in Houston for chemotherapy.
Minerva
On October 6, 2015, at 26 years old, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A month later, I was in remission. I completed six months of chemotherapy and am so grateful to be back at my normal life.
One thing I learned early on is that when one person is diagnosed with cancer, so are their friends and family. My journey has not been one I have gone through alone, I have gone through it with the love and support of the people I love.
Robert
I was diagnosed on August 28, 1999 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I was told at that time that I would not survive the next week.
Well, at 28 years old, I did not accept that sentence. With a lot of good medical technology and the love of my family and friends, I was able to overcome the odds. I am going on my 16th year cancer free. I do have a lot of health issues due to the intense chemotherapy but I am blessed to still be here.
Ally
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in October 2024 and began chemotherapy (my last is April 25). My best friend and I were supposed to run a half marathon together in March 2025, but due to my health, I had to skip it. She wound up fundraising through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) on my behalf and ran the NYC half marathon. Our next goal is to run the NYC marathon together!
CML in Children and Young Adults
Most cases of CML occur in adults. From 2012 to 2016, approximately 2 percent of all cases of CML occurred in children, adolescents and young adults less than age 20.
Suzanne
My mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) in February 1987. She passed away in December 1997. I was diagnosed with MM in February 2017. My diagnosis was not only a surprise but daunting because I was my mother’s caregiver and experienced what she faced battling this disease. I’m currently undergoing treatment with the bispecific drug Teclistamab with success. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has provided me with educational and financial assistance, so I greatly appreciate this organization.
Rhonda
This is my second time participating in the Light The Night as a cancer survivor. I have had blood cancer twice.
In 2012 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. After being in remission for almost 7 years on December 17, 2018 I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I had a bone marrow transplant in March and I am in remission.
I must say I’m grateful that team NCA (National Christian Academy’s school cheerleaders) would do Light The Night in my honor.
Taylor
Meet Taylor Carol. survivor to singer. Taylor started singing in the 4th grade, until he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just 11 years old. For about 2 years Taylor's health kept him from singing, but after he went in remission he came back with an even greater passion. Since then Taylor have been given the chance to sing at incredible venues and share his inspirational story of hope and passion.
William
Hi, my name is William Yank and I am a 23-year-old, three-time leukemia survivor from Indiana. My story begins at the end of my junior year of college. I had just secured an internship in Washington D.C and was excited to finally spend a summer on my own. The summer started off pretty rough. I struggled to find affordable housing in D.C, I had no idea how the transportation system worked, and food was twice as expensive as compared to Indiana. Not to mention, I was only 20-years-old having fun was next to impossible.
Melanie
I beat stage 4 lymphoma last year after six months of aggressive chemotherapy. Honestly, I wasn't given much information from my centers, but The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) reached out to me to inform me about all the aid and grants they offer to help those going through cancer. Their representative stayed on the phone with me for over 40 minutes and was one of the most helpful people. When you're going through cancer with very little education, EVERYONE helps.
Dr. Adams
Jerry M. Adams, Ph.D., leads an LLS Specialized Center of Research grant.
His team is investigating apoptosis, the nature process of cell death. When apoptosis goes wrong it can lead to proliferation of cancer cells. It cells fail to die when they are supposed to they can develop into leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, and become more resistant to treatment. To improve treatment, the team is studying new drugs, used either alone or in combination with other therapies, to flip on the cell death switch.
Erica
As you can see, she's the beauty in the grey sweatshirt, mi amor. My daughter Erica survived leukemia, she was diagnosed when she was only two years old.
I'm the blessed momma that gets to celebrate this amazing woman of courage, who is now 28 years old!
Thanks to her awesome team at children's Hospital of Denver and the numerous supporters along the way. You’ve made the celebration of an important life possible.
Blessings, Erica’s mom, Rhonda Lee Salazar.
Kevin
In 2011, I was given two months to live after I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
I had to stay at the Bone Marrow Transplant Center at the Salt Lake City Hospital for a very long time and undergo a very hard fight.
My aortic valve failed this year from the chemo, but I had open heart surgery in May 2017 and I am grateful to be alive!
I live in honor to all that passed in our family and those who are still fighting blood cancer.