Only a couple weeks into my first year of my graduate program, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3 mutation. I was only 21 years old and my entire world got flipped upside down. My whole life changed and I was about 1,000 miles from home.
My diagnosis was a complete surprise to me, almost like getting whiplash. I was attending classes, hanging out with friends, and working a part-time job. I was even nannying two days prior to my diagnosis. But within those two days, things went downhill fast. I started feeling really sick and could not even keep water down. My brother took me to the ER on Sept 27, 2022. It was about 11 p.m. when someone came in to tell me the news.
“You have leukemia.”
hose three words that I will never forget hearing. I never went home that night. I went straight to inpatient and spent 42 days straight at the hospital.
I consider myself very lucky because of the amazing healthcare I experienced here in Minnesota. I started on chemo within 48 hours and reached remission after the first round of chemo!
Of course, it was no easy feat. I love nature and for those 42 days, my view from my window was a brick wall. And then, of course, I had all the side effects, and then some.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was so generous to grant my family money so my mom could relocate up to Minnesota for the duration of my treatment. The financial assistance LLS granted me allowed me and my family to focus on my health and well-being, not the cost of things. My support system was everything to me during that time.
Two months after being in remission, I was admitted to the University of Minnesota for my bone marrow transplant. My donor was anonymous from Poland and I am forever grateful for him giving me a second chance at life. I tear up and become speechless every time I think about this man and how completely selfless and incredibly kind he is to do this for someone he doesn't know.
I had my bone marrow transplant on January 10, 2023, and was quick to engraft. My GVHD symptoms were luckily not as bad as they could’ve been and managed quickly and efficiently by my care team. I am now just on maintenance chemo for the time being. I am back to hanging out with friends, working part-time, and back in school preparing to be an elementary school teacher!
I am not quite done with treatment but will never stop advocating, fundraising, and supporting. If cancer taught me anything, it’s to take the small wins. So even though there is still so much to be done for blood cancer fighters, I’ll take this win.
Katie
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
