Dear Friends and Family
On June 7th, I will be running the NYC Women's 10K to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in their mission to find cures for blood cancers - like mine.
This year, more than ever, we need the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Reductions in government funding for cancer research have greatly impacted our ability to find new cures. We desperately need organizations like LLS to fund essential research like the research that saved my life.
Thank you all for your love and support!
My Story:
In June 2013, things were going great. After years of rigorous medical training, I had finally started my dream job at Cornell as a pediatric oncologist and lymphoma researcher. My husband, Chad, and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary and planning our future family. Then everyting changed when I discovered a lump near my collarbone.
The lump turned out to be part of a much larger tumor growing in my chest. On July 17, 2013, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Our lives were turned upside down. Instead of planning our future as a newly married couple, Chad and I found ourselves just hoping I would survive to see it.
Everything came to a halt. Before starting treatment, I underwent several procedures to preserve my chances of having children. Then came the first of eight chemotherapy treatments. I am incredibly fortunate that these treatments shrunk the tumor and put me into remission. By December 2013, I was cancer-free!
In 2014, we received the wonderful news that I was pregnant, and in 2015, we welcomed our son Zachary. Two years later, Parker completed our family. I feel so incredibly lucky every single day.
However, not everyone is as fortunate. Many are still battling blood cancers, desperately waiting for new treatments and breakthroughs.
This is why I am raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Please join me in this vital cause. Together, we can help more people win their fight against blood cancer.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Lisa