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Donna is
Blood Cancer United

Photo of Donna standing in her kitchen

I was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in my 20’s. I had a three-year-old daughter and a husband. I went through six months of chemo and continued working full-time as a nurse in homecare the whole time. I was told that if I was to have a reoccurrence, it would come back as leukemia within 10 years. I harvested my bone marrow after chemo and saved it for the 10-year time frame. I thought I would never get cancer again. However, in 2018, I started not feeling well and was diagnosed in July with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I went through a week of chemo to get the AML under control, and two months later I had a stem cell transplant. Luckily, I am still here, and I am very grateful for every day. I was “three years old” in October. LLS has been good to me and my family trying to help where they can. 

Donna

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

We are Blood Cancer United.

Everyone affected by blood cancer—patients, survivors, caregivers, researchers, advocates, fundraisers, everyone—has a story. Share yours.
Lila wearing warm clothes-standing in front of a 'top of Mt. Kilimanjaro' sign with arms raised

Lila

acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Rachel in hospital with head wrap holding "It's my last day of chemo" sign

Rachel

lymphoma

Richard in a chair outside with a Corona smiling in a blue hooded jacket

Richard

In memory

henry-h_dam_file_29286.jpg

Henry Jr

leukemia

Snapshot of Toben standing in front of trees, a cancer survivor

Toben

leukemia

Woman with glasses looking into camera

Chrissy

B-cell follicular lymphoma (FL)

Copilot said: Close-up of two older adults seated together indoors, smiling and leaning side by side at a table, highlighting support, connection, and shared experiences within the blood cancer community and survivorship awareness.

Lawrence

acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Copilot said: Close-up selfie of an older adult wearing glasses and a navy shirt with an “I Voted” sticker, seated in a car, highlighting everyday resilience and community engagement within the blood cancer community and survivorship journey.

Fred

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Snapshot of Tracy wearing a hat and glasses in front of a waterfall, a cancer survivor

Tracy

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Heriberto, Burkitt lymphoma (BL) patient, with wife on his wedding day

Heriberto

Burkitt lymphoma (BL)

Gabriele Papa, AML

Gabriele

acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Gerardo (Jerry), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient

Gerardo (Jerry)

myelofibrosis (MF), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - In memory

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is now Blood Cancer United. Learn more.