Search Results
Lynette
It all started with a race... I began running back in 2011 with the sole purpose of losing weight. I joined a running group and became interested in races, specifically the Nike Women's Half Marathon.
Maria
By the end of November 2008, I started feeling an overwhelming fatigue. I developed a fever and my physician sent me urgently to the emergency room. There I was found to be depleted of blood and needed a transfusion. It seemed so unreal.
After a couple of days and a bone marrow biopsy, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I learned that if I had not sought help in the ER, I could had died.
Beth
Shortly after Thanksgiving of 2008, I started feeling sick and extremely weak. By late January of 2009, I was diagnosed with stage IV aggressive Burkitt’s lymphoma.
Lorri
In February, 2015 I got fever that would not go away. I figured it was the flu, even though I had the flu shot earlier that year. I just assumed it wasn’t effective. I continued to keep my daily routine including work and even hiking, but I felt so tired and ill. After several visits to a variety of healthcare facilities, I still didn’t hear the “C" word yet.
Lyra
Lyra is a confident three year old who spreads joy wherever she goes! She loves to sing, dance, draw, snuggle while reading stories and is rarely seen in anything but a princess dress. If you happen to pass Lyra at the store, she will most certainly ask you your name and probably tell you all about her favorite my little pony or what she ate for breakfast.
Jack
Jack is a particularly big fan of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His is an active Patient Advocate managing a local support group for patients and caregivers interested in his rare blood cancer, he participates in LLS' First Connection program, has helped with LLS' Team in Training and Light the Night recruiting efforts. He received LLS' appreciation award "For Outstanding Commitment and Support of Advocacy and Patient Quality of Life" in June 2104.
Melissa
I want to tell you about my hero, my wife, Melissa. She is service-focused from the time she gets out of bed until the time she returns. She's been a part of Team In Training for the past three years and has raised well into five figures to help others. That's what made her Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis all the more ironic.
Vonshel
Hi, my name is Von, and back in 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I didn't want to die, but prayer and God sent me right to the perfect doctor: Dr. Moran from Brunswick, GA. I got through chemotherapy and radiation with a breeze, and I'm now in remission for 13 years.
Caitlin
In June 2016, I was diagnosed with a super rare form of leukemia called Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Neoplasm (BPDCN).
At the time I was 12 years old, just graduated sixth grade and was looking forward to entering middle school.
During one of my gymnastics practices, while doing a dismount off the beam, I hit my ankle really hard which caused it to bruise. The bruise formed into a lump so my mom took me to my pediatricians who then referred us to my hospital, where I received a skin biopsy and was diagnosed with cancer a week later.
Anasia
I was diagnosed at 26 years old with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in June 2022. I was still a newlywed having married my best friend in 2021 and was a mom of two boys (ages three and one).
I began experiencing symptoms in May 2022 and didn't think it was anything other than stress ― until they became unbearable. Losing unintentional weight, having night sweats, a swollen face, and chest pain ― my husband knew something wasn't right. We waited in the ED for hours before being seen and having several tests run.
Paul
In 2001, I described my health as excellent. I had a great job, was very physically active, and participated in a number of nonprofit activities. However, I very occasionally experienced extreme abdominal cramps that caused nausea and curling into a fetal position for approximately five hours. Doctors were perplexed, though suspected gallstones.
Liz
In December 2010, my fiancé, Darla, was diagnosed with stage 4 small B-cell lymphoma (NHL). Her doctors developed a plan to start her on chemotherapy as soon as possible. She became very sick over the next couple of weeks. When she went to her first treatment three weeks after diagnosis, they could not administer the chemotherapy due to her being so ill. They put it off for a day and began Rituxan® treatment the next morning. She began having an allergic reaction to the drug. They stopped the treatment and tried to stabilize her, but later that evening, she passed away.
Isabelle
I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on December 4, 2003, at the age of five. As a young child, I was very energetic and loved to do anything outdoors and active, and I especially loved a good competition with my older brother Harrison. My parents began noticing that something was off when I started complaining about not being able to walk up the big hills in San Francisco where we lived. This was very uncharacteristic of me as I loved to race my brother to the top.
J.J.
The first time I remember hearing of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was through Team In Training (TNT), specifically from a brochure I picked up at a bike shop that invited one to train for a 109-mile bike ride with TNT. It was 2007, and I thought it sounded like a blast. I convinced my girlfriend at the time, Stacey, to join me. We used the occasion to buy some fancy new bikes. With some fundraising and committed training dates, we would be able to say we had done a Century Bike Ride! Cool!
Zariyah
Zariyah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on May 9, 2016. She had just turned three years old the previous November. She was immediately admitted to Montefiore Children's Hospital when her blood test results came back as positive for leukemia. Her blood levels were three when they were supposed to be 11. They actually almost sent us home stating that whatever was causing her illness was viral. I requested that blood be taken and tested because I just knew it had to be more than just a cold or flu.
Sara
In May 2019, I was surprised and delighted to find out that I was pregnant. Throughout the summer, I eagerly delved into extensive reading and research on pregnancy and the first-time mom experience. However, this period also brought about a challenging early pregnancy. I found myself short of breath after even short walks, relied on numerous naps, and surprisingly didn't experience intense pregnancy cravings. In fact, I wasn't gaining much weight.
Julie
March 22, 2020- 7 years since acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosis, CURED!!! I am so blessed to be alive to celebrate my 7th year since diagnosis of AML! Who celebrates being diagnosed with AML or any cancer for that matter? But let’s be honest, in the cancer lottery, AML, is not one of the preferred. At least if you cling to cancer stats which is something I highly discourage. The first problem with AML stats specifically-the mean DX age of 68ish.
Edie
My warrior daughter Edie entered the world on July 30, 2016 with eyes wide open ready to soak it all in and leave behind her indelible mark. From early on, we knew we had our hands full. Our first months as new parents were filled with the usual sleepless nights and anxiety, but Edie had a special way of keeping us on our toes. Our wide-eyed beauty did not take kindly to naps or bedtime, fighting vigorously to have her way, but we soon realized this was Edie’s world and we were just living in it.
Holly
It felt just like any other Saturday after my dad's birthday. He got his annual checkup and bloodwork, and we would all celebrate our April birthdays around Easter Sunday. But this turned into something unlike any other Saturday. His cell phone rang, and everything changed. He was told to go to the ER immediately because something was wrong with his bloodwork, specifically his red and white blood cells.It could have been the shock of feeling everything all at once and being numb simultaneously.
Jacqueline
It’s been five years since my daughter was diagnosed with stage ¾ Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). She had just graduated college, and she had a lump on her right clavicle area. We went to the doctor, and then it all started, from CT scans to biopsy to telling us that it would be six months of chemo, and that’s it.
Lenny
I am nominating an extraordinary person, that I have never met in person before. This person truly changed my life in many ways. He has performed many positive actions that changed my perspective and outlook of people for the better. He truly has the power to change millions of people's and or their family's lives, and my family and I were fortunate to be the recipients of access to his extensive knowledge base and his immediate comforting support.
Gianna
My story began nearly seven years ago on February 28 when I received the call from my doctor and heard those dreaded words, “You have cancer.” A week prior, I had gotten a lymph node biopsy for a lump that randomly grew on my neck. As a healthy 19-year-old, cancer was the furthest thing from my mind, and receiving a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was simply unbelievable to me and my family. Hearing this news began a three-week blur of diagnostic testing and meetings with oncologists, fertility specialists, and surgeons before my first chemotherapy treatment on March 23, 2015.