When I was in law school, my mom was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a blood cancer. It was an absolute shock to my entire family. While we were told it was a “good” leukemia to have, it was obviously still cancer and very scary. My mom was one of the youngest ever to be diagnosed with this condition – that was not an achievement we were excited about.
My mom had excellent doctors and the absolute best attitude. For decades, she was put through various treatments where she felt terribly sick, had no energy, couldn’t eat, lost her hair, had horrible mouth sores, and a million other side effects. But she always fought for her quality of life and for time with her family.
We were fortunate. With medical advancements, my mom lived for more than twenty years with leukemia. We participated in the Light the Night walks with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We saw other families who were struggling badly. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) does incredible things for these families. It has now changed its name to Blood Cancer United, and I wanted to help spread the word of this great organization.
I like to think I help people during their darkest times – their own injuries or even the death of a loved one. No one wants to go through an illness like cancer, but we can help the people who are forced to do so. As always, be grateful for your health and, if able, give back to those who aren’t as fortunate.
