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Joan is
Blood Cancer United

What a beautiful wedding, a beautiful bride, and a handsome groom. Love was in the air. For 10 weeks this lovely couple lived in their honeymoon state of mind. They had been blessed with the ability to buy a small condo that they filled with dreams and aspirations of what was to come. Miranda was her name. She was physically very petite but oversized in her desire to be the best wife ever to Joe. Her long, dark hair emphasized those large, dark eyes and creamy clear skin. Ten weeks later, the diagnosis was leukemia. She took it as her personal challenge to do what she must to survive. After chemo treatments, the dark hair was no more, not even her eyebrows were spared. She would go into remission; we cheered. She would slip out of remission; we cried. This cruel fate would repeat itself many times over. The stem cell transplants which were almost a perfect match did not save her. God took her home after three years of treatment.

I was her mother-in-law. We tried to help her as much as possible. We lived through every up and every down. I am now at the doorstep of a cancer clinic for myself. I have lymphoma. I can’t have cancer, but I do have cancer. I can’t have cancer as I feel great and look great for 78 years young. I can’t have cancer as I have a wonderful trip planned, first to New York and then onward to Paris. I can’t have cancer as my best friend is coming to visit. Oh crap!!! I have cancer.

Joan

lymphoma

We are Blood Cancer United.

Everyone affected by blood cancer—patients, survivors, caregivers, researchers, advocates, fundraisers, everyone—has a story. Share yours.
James, volunteer and survivor, pictured with group of friends

James

Volunteer and survivor

lynette-m-1_dam_file_19991.jpeg

Lynette

Volunteer

Headshot of Todd wearing suit and tie, a cancer survivor

Todd

Volunteer

Family visiting a loved one during blood cancer treatment in a hospital room. A patient rests in a hospital bed surrounded by family members wearing protective masks, with medical equipment visible nearby. This powerful image highlights the impact of blood cancer on families, the importance of caregiver support, and the realities of leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancer treatments during hospitalization.

Brandon

Family member and supporter

Alec standing in front of LightThe Night signage in a park at a Light The Night event. Alec is wearing a blue shirt with the words, "Survivor, Light The Night" printed on it and holding a white Light The Night survivor lantern.

Alec

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL)

Headshot of Nastasha, shoulder length straight blonde hair, in a red jacket and smiling

Natasha

primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL)

Snapshot of Tricia with her family, a cancer survivor

Tricia

Staff

Two children stand together on a wooden bridge at a theme park, wearing colorful character-themed outfits and mouse ear headbands, with a large green topiary figure and water feature in the background—highlighting childhood joy, family moments, and hope within the blood cancer community and pediatric blood cancer awareness.

Riley

Family member and caregiver

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

Rachel

lymphoma

Woman with glasses looking into camera

Chrissy

B-cell follicular lymphoma (FL)

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

Heriberto

Burkitt lymphoma (BL)

Photo of a mature woman standing on a savannah feeding a giraffe out of her hand

Lisa

Lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

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