I grew up hearing stories about when my uncle Mark was diagnosed with leukemia. The heartache, the stress on the family, the fear and luckily for all of us – his remission. His CURE.
Imagine the reaction, when nearly 40 years later my husband and I had to call many of these same family members who walked this walk with my uncle to tell them that their granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece, great-niece had received the same diagnosis. Feb 20, 2013 – a day we will never forget. The day our lives were changed forever. It was heart breaking to say the least.
I didn’t have the strength to call my uncle. I knew that he was going to be heartbroken. We all were. But he, more than anyone else, knew firsthand the journey that she was about to take. And it wasn’t going to be easy. One month after Ashley’s diagnosis and 40 years after his battle with leukemia, Mark was diagnosed with a secondary cancer. We lost our uncle that following November. He is forever in our hearts and an angel watching over us daily.
On April 26, 2014, my sweet girl took her last pill. We made it. REMISSION! Every day is a blessing. We live life in the moment. We are thankful for the little things. And we are committed to finding a CURE! And for that reason, I yell it with pride: GO TEAM!
Tricia
Leukemia Survivor
