I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on November 8, 2023, right before my 27th birthday. I spent 57 days in the hospital as soon as I was diagnosed, as I was very sick and needed intense chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor in my chest. I had a spinal tap with chemotherapy and had a mini stroke from one of my chemos that put me into the Neuro ICU. I had a bone marrow transplant, and my little brother was the match in spring 2024.
In fall 2025, I celebrated my remission at Light The Night (LTN). In winter 2025, at my six-month bone marrow biopsy, I had relapsed. I was devastated, but knew I had my team and God to get me through what I had just gone through a second time. I started intensive chemotherapy and radiation again in spring 2025. I had my second bone marrow transplant. I just had my six-month bone marrow biopsy since then and have been clear and in remission. After my second transplant, I was just diagnosed with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in my liver and skin. I was readmitted to the hospital and have probably spent over 150 days total admitted in the past two years. We now have my chronic GVHD under control with medication, and I still have three more maintenance chemotherapies to endure over the next few months.
I thank my doctors and nurses at Mayo for getting me through these physical and mental hurdles over the past two years. Blood Cancer United has been an amazing resource throughout my journey and has also brought me so many supportive friends. I look forward to hitting my two-year mark in remission in the next year and a half.
Olivia
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
