Please show your support for Team Todd and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - by December 31, 2019
Todd's Story
After a summer of consistent stomach pain, bloodwork and a CAT scan with no discovery, this September, Todd Wallace was rushed to the emergency room.
Hours later, he was in an emergency two-hour surgery.
“We were told my recovery would require a week’s hospital stay,” Todd said. “As one can imagine, this requires much in terms of logistical planning, as well as family and friend support. We thought this was our only challenge, and immensely felt the blessing of the incredible support provided to us.”
“On our fifth day at the hospital, my youngest daughter’s fifth birthday,” he recalled, “I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Diffuse Large B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.”
Even in the face of this challenge, Todd has remained positive.
“All I could do was decide to focus on finding the positives in this diagnosis. I wanted to ensure every day started with actively searching for the gifts that cancer would reveal to us. It’s been an awakening in being present and enjoying every day and every moment with my children – all the things you take for granted.”
In an effort to show their solidarity with their long-time friend and teammate, members of JLL’s Austin Retail team decided to do something.
“Todd was a few weeks into his treatment and had begun losing his hair quickly,” said Austin McWilliams, Senior Vice President, JLL. “He mentioned he was about to shave it and the idea immerged: let’s shave our heads -- so that in a small way, we can let Todd know we stand with him during his fight.”
It was Todd’s idea to turn it into a fundraiser to help raise money and awareness for the work of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Within the first 48 hours, they had 12 commitments.
“That doesn’t mean we didn’t have a few hold outs,” said Austin. “I mean, there are some guys in the office with great hair! Come December 12th [the day the team plans to shave their heads], that will change for all of us.”
That level of loyalty and appreciation is rare in this industry, said Austin.
