In January 2020, at the pinnacle of my 25-year career in esthetics and oncology skincare, I transitioned from the expert providing comfort to the patient seeking it. Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) just two months after my wedding, I suddenly found myself navigating the very side effects I had spent decades treating in others.
My path to healing was a grueling test of resilience. After a relapse following a clinical trial, I moved to Los Angeles to find a medical team at City of Hope who would truly listen to my voice. When the world’s donor pool narrowed down to just one person — the same donor from my first transplant — we took a leap of faith together. He stepped up once more, and today I am alive because of that extraordinary gift of life.
Throughout this journey, Blood Cancer United served as my anchor, providing the education and financial lifeline I needed to keep fighting. Their compassion transformed my perspective on what it means to be part of a support network.
Now living with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and working remotely, I have traded my full-time practice for a deeper, more personal calling. My journey has bestowed upon me a "soul-deep" empathy for my clients and fellow survivors. I am honored to volunteer with Blood Cancer United, turning my survival into a source of hope, purpose, and community for others walking this path.
Danielle
acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
