Project Report
| Sep 28, 2012
Remembering Families too
By Lori Kriegel | Director, eMarketing
![Pictured: Brett Keisel and Aaron Jones]()
Pictured: Brett Keisel and Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones was 7 when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He battled valiantly for three years but tragically lost his life to the disease on June 28, 2012.
During his cancer journey Aaron spent many of his days at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. While there, he had the thrill of meeting several of his heroes from the Pittsburgh Steelers, including Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel. Aaron got so sick so quickly that he never got the chance to attend a Steelers game, but in August the Steelers organization and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society teamed up to invite his family – mom, dad and two brothers - to attend a game.
“It has been hard since we lost Aaron; Our house is so empty without his laughs,” his mother, Shelly Jackson said. “Thank you for remembering the families, too, whether they are still in treatment or cured or passed on to heaven. It meant a lot to us but I think I was the only one who cried at the Steeler game that night.”
Thank you for your generous support through GlobalGiving.
Links:
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
Jun 7, 2012
One Woman's Cancer Journey
By John E. Walter | President & CEO
This is a story of a woman's cancer journey and the appreciation she has for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
In February of 2010, I received the frightening news that I had Hodgkin's disease. After a PET scan and two biopsies, I was hit with the additional news that I was positive for stage 2 Lymphoma. I was 42 and scared to death.
When I went in for my first visit with oncologist Dr. Rafique of Tri County Hematology and Oncology in Ohio, I found out how expensive chemotherapy is and how health insurance doesn't cover it all. Fortunately, my doctor directed me to LLS and they helped with more than 50% of my insurance co-pages. This was a major relief and allowed me to concentrate on fighting the illness and getting better.
My 12 rounds of chemotherapy ended in the fall of 2010. Unfortunately, I sustained lung damage from one of the chemotherapy agents and had to spend three weeks in the hospital recovering. I had another PET scan in April of 2011 and was given the great news that I was in remission!
I am forever grateful for my wonderful doctor and the financial support I received from LLS. I encourage everyone to help this great organization and other cancer patients to take advantage of the support they provide.
~ Cynthia Clark
Cynthia was so grateful for the help she received during treatment, she has designated LLS as a beneficiary in her retirement plan. Cynthia has insured that the hope and support she felt from LLS during her treatment will carry-on for others.
On behalf of patients everywhere, thank you Cynthia.
Learn more about how you can designate LLS as a beneficiary.
Wishing you the best of health.
Links:
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
Mar 8, 2012
Inspired by Your Stories
By John E. Walter | President & CEO, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
![]()
As a passionate supporter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), I would like to share with you the story of this year's Girl of the Year for LLS's Man & Woman of the Year campaign in Miami. I hope you will find it as inspirational as I did.
Kiarrah-Dashe' was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on May 19, 2011 when she was just 4 years old.
KD was getting fevers and suffering from exhaustion, I knew something was wrong when she started taking naps and brought her to the hospital. In the ER they found nothing, so I followed up with her pediatrician. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary but ran blood tests anyway. Later that night her pediatrician called and told me to take her directly to the ER. When I got to the hospital more tests were run and after hours of waiting it was finally confirmed. KD had leukemia.
While the worst part about the entire ordeal was finding out, the four week hospital stay and weekly doctor visits was no "walk in the park" However, it's a small price to pay when you can hold your child every day. The doctors and nurses at Holtz Children's Hospital are the best. They made the whole experience bearable by treating KD like a normal kid. As KD says, "she just has bugs in her blood."
KD was back to herself in just 3 weeks, talking a mile a minute and acting like she had ants in her pants. Throughout this entire life-changing event we kept telling ourselves that it could have been worse. She is an amazing strong little girl that has taught us all to always remain positive.
Tyrashiana, KD's Mom
Many of you have your own stories or have been moved to support LLS by someone like KD. One of LLS's oldest fundraising programs is our neighbor to neighbor campaign. People share their stories with friends and neighbors and ask them to support the cause.
If you'd like to participate in the neighbor to neighbor campaign this year, it would be greatly appreciated. Nothing is more powerful than a friend asking a friend to support the cause that is dear to them. Please fill out this form and a neighborhood campaign kit will be mailed to you.
Wishing you the best of health,
John E. Walter
President & CEO, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Links:
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
