I’m Diane. I moved from Nigeria to the United States in 2018 with my husband and son to pursue my Ph.D. in Journalism and Communication at the University of Florida. We built our lives here, welcomed two daughters, and by 2022, I had graduated and landed my dream job as a tenure-track assistant professor at Tennessee State University.
Everything changed in October 2023 when I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). My doctor told me my best chance to survive was a stem cell transplant. In March 2024, my older sister, Nkemdilim, donated her stem cells to me. Thankfully, my body accepted them fully, and I’ve been doing well since, with only minimal graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).
Treatment was not easy. I battled severe side effects—mucositis, skin discoloration, loss of appetite, and intense anxiety. There were days I couldn’t eat, days the pain felt unbearable, and nights when fear kept me awake. Sometimes, I was alone in the hospital because my husband had to work and care for our children. My mom, who had been helping, eventually had to return to Nigeria. It was incredibly hard being sick in the U.S. without my extended family to share in caring for me. But my faith in God, the love of my husband and children, and the support of friends kept me going.
During that time, I followed the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, now Blood Cancer United, online. The survivor stories gave me so much hope on my hardest days. I also had a virtual session with a Blood Cancer United nutritionist, which helped me take better care of myself.
Crochet became my therapy. I started making hats, sweaters, and socks—anything to keep my hands busy and my mind from spiraling. It gave me purpose on days I felt lost. I eventually lost my job due to my illness, but now I share my cancer journey and crochet projects on social media through my page HealedByCrochet, hoping my story can give someone else the hope that Blood Cancer United gave me. While I wait to see what’s next for my career, I’m embracing this new chapter with creativity and purpose.
I’m grateful for the chance to keep living, to watch my kids grow, and to keep moving forward—one stitch at a time.
Diane
acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
