In October 2020 I was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia called Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, or CML. And, it is even more rare in young females, as I was at the time. Initially, the diagnosis was devastating. So many questions swirled through my mind, like, "Will I survive this?", "Will I get to see my kids grow up?", "Will I go bald?", "Will the treatment make me sick?"... and those are just a few. I turned my focus to healing, which turned out to not only be physical but also mental and emotional. And over the past four years I've learned that I will survive, I will see my kids grow up, I didn't go bald, and the treatment hasn't made me terribly sick.

Shortly after I was diagnosed I met another young woman with CML through a private Facebook group. Our Facebook messenger chats turned into texts, phone calls, Marco Polos, and recently, a meet up in person! That young woman is Samuel's mom, Brandi. I'm so grateful to have met another woman warrior to walk beside through this disease. There are so many conversations we've had that could not be understood by anyone but each other. I'm excited to be joining Samuel in his pursuit to raise money for LLS! Because of the research, resources, and fund raising efforts of LLS, Brandi, myself, and others with CML are able to access support and effective, life saving medication. Thank you, personally and sincerely, for your donation to this worthy cause - a cause that has given two moms turned friends a chance to really live!

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Visionaries look to the future—and see infinite possibility.
They challenge the status quo—and make the impossible possible.
They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was built on that same vision - of a better world - one without blood cancers.

I am a visionary; I have a vision for a world without cancer, but I need your help.

This year, I’m proud to be a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign, working to raise as much as possible for LLS’s mission.

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS:

• Funds cutting-edge research leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients
• Provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more.
• Mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care.

Please consider joining this fight by making a donation. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help ensure this generation is the last to see cancer.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you!

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.