I am a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and first responder. My husband and I have been married for nine years, and we have two children. Our daughter is 4 years old, and our son is 2 years old. Growing up, I was an athlete and spent many years playing soccer. Over the last five years, while working as a training officer at the police academy, I found joy in running. Two of my best friends signed up to run the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon on June 1, 2025, and after a little convincing, I found myself signed up to run the marathon with them. I felt healthy and in the best athletic shape of my life; I reached my goal and ran the marathon in four hours. A week later, I got sick with terrible symptoms of extreme fatigue, night sweats, brain fog, headaches, and chest pains. I continued to work and powered through the days, thinking my body was recovering from the physical exertion of running the marathon.
I walked into the ER on June 17, feeling confused and really sick. After several blood tests and waiting a few hours, the ER doctor asked to speak with me in a private room. She blankly stared at me and said I was presumptively positive for leukemia. I was in complete shock and disbelief. It felt like my heart dropped down into my stomach, and I immediately thought about my kids. After having a bone marrow biopsy in the ER, my diagnosis was confirmed: acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I started induction chemotherapy on June 27 for seven days. I ended up in the ICU for four days due to severe chemo side effects — my heart and kidneys were failing, I couldn't walk on my own, I lost my appetite, I had retinal hemorrhaging in my eyes, causing blind spots, and I had terrible rigors and fevers. With much support from hospital staff, family, and friends, I broke out of the hospital on July 20. I had three more rounds of consolidation chemotherapy at the end of July, August, and September. On September 27, I got to "ring the bell' signifying I completed all planned chemotherapy treatment. I have had a total of five bone marrow biopsies, with more in the near future for monitoring. I do not currently have a good match for a stem cell transplant, and so I remain hopeful that I can reach full remission with the treatment I have received. I will continue to fight for my family and for all those who have been affected by blood cancer.
If you have been affected by blood cancer and are reading this, remember: Giving up is not an option. Remember what brings you joy, take the journey one day at a time, and be grateful for every small win. All we truly have is this moment, right here, right now.
Cristina
acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
