Help me make a difference that matters.

December 11, 2019 will always be the day my entire world somehow seemed t​​​​​​​o stop spinning and to speed up all at once. I don't remember the doctor's exact words when she came into the hospital room to give us the news: your daughter has cancer. What I do remember is the gut wrenching agony, the anger, the sense of helplessness, and steeling ourselves in determination- tell us what comes next, we said. What came next- TONS of information, INCREDIBLE support, and a DETAILED treatment protocol. Thanks to the advancements in the treatment of pedatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, it was all mapped out in front of us, and we were even able to enroll in a study for a cutting edge immunotherapy drug aiming to reduce the occurence of relapse. 

I lost track of the treatments and procedures- from bone marrow biopsies, blood transfusions, plasma infusions, IVIG infusions, pills, injections, IV treatments, blood draws (so many blood draws), and the indispensable meds to counteract the side effects of chemo. My sweet Annabelle (diagnosed at age 4), lost weight, gained weight, retained water, experienced nausea, hair loss, lethargy, and mild neuropathy, without understanding any of it. After 2 years and 2 months of treatment, she got to ring the bell, grinning ear to ear, and excited to graduate to the next stage of life. We continue with long term care follow ups, but the memories we hold from those 2 years have defined an era of our lives. 

Where would we be without the medical advancements forged by the cancer community? Where would we be without the support of organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society? I refuse to think about it. Instead, I'm determined to continue to forge ahead and make a difference. Not all patients are blessed with similar outcomes. There is still work to be done.

This year I'm honored to play a bigger role in the annual Leukemia Ball.  Please join me in supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) by making a donation to my fundraising campaign. Thanks to your support, my efforts, will help fund the therapies and treatments and help save lives today. Help me pay it forward.

LLS's continued advancements over the years, are responsible for the blood cancer survival rate doubling and tripling; in some cases, the survival rate has even quadrupled.

Many LLS supported therapies, not only help blood cancer patients, but are now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers. They're even being tested in clinical trials for patients with a range of cancers including lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. LLS funded drugs are now being tested for patients with other non-cancerous diseases like Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis.

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well. I could go on for days about the incredible cancer network, and the services available. I don't think I will ever be able to put back into the community the benefit that I've found in it, but please help me try!

Please consider donating, tell your friends, tell your coworkers, tell anyone who may also like to donate... you have my sincerest gratitude!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, and their families and caretakers, I thank you for reading a little about Annabelle's journey, and thank your support!

For more information about LLS, please visit lls.org