Thursday, Jan 27, 2022. We found ourselves sitting in an ER waiting for results after routine bloodwork came back “abnormal”. In the middle of a crowded area, with no privacy, the Dr leaned over and said, “The hematologist will be here soon to take you to your room. You have leukemia.” As they led us through the maze of hallways, multiple elevators, and through the locked doors, that’s when it hit me. The plaque on the wall said, “Cancer Center”. My husband’s room was in the “Cancer Center”. We had cancer.

The days that followed are a whirlwind blur of Drs and tests, biopsies and processing. My husband has Acute Myeloid Leukemia. A very aggressive form. He started treatment immediately which consisted of two types of chemo drugs. One given 24/hr a day through an IV for seven days and another given through injection by a nurse on days 1, 2 and 3. During his treatment we came to understand the importance of giving blood. Some days he needed blood every day. A cancer patient going through chemo, needing to maintain levels for their health, can go through a lot of donated blood. That situation alone depletes blood banks who are already undergoing a critical shortage in donations.

Blood and Platelet donations are the reason my husband can fight this disease. Please consider donating and give #AFightingChance to someone else.