Saul is
Blood Cancer United

My name is Saul, and I am a survivor of non-Hodgkin follicular lymphoma (FL) grade 3B transformed into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). I have a unique story that I’m comfortable sharing. I’m currently 39 years old and was first diagnosed in 2021.

A little background:

In 2008, I graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and went on to run my own personal training company for more than a decade.

In 2019, my wife and I welcomed our son, Silas. When COVID-19 hit, I paused my fitness business to raise our son. During that time, my wife and I agreed that I would pursue a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, inspired by my desire to improve medical operations and help those affected by the pandemic.

In February 2021, we found out my wife was expecting twin girls.

In May 2021, I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma.

At first, I felt healthy and energetic, with only a small lump on my clavicle that didn’t seem concerning. A close friend in medical school insisted I get it checked, calling me daily until I finally found an affordable MRI center. He shared my scans with his professors, who immediately referred me to Dr. Peabody at Northwestern Medicine. After a biopsy, I was diagnosed with FL and sent to Dr. Leo Gordon for treatment.

After my first round of R-CHOP, it was discovered that my lymphoma had transformed into DLBCL.

In July 2021, treatment began.

In September 2021, my wife delivered our twin girls.

At that time, my father, who had been living with us since 2019 due to Parkinson’s, needed care as well. We were raising three children under the age of three with no outside help. My wife is a first-generation immigrant from Lithuania with her family overseas, and I am an only child. My father had Parkinson’s, and my mother, who had cardiovascular disease and was a heavy smoker, passed away in 2023.

Despite these challenges, I completed my Master’s degree while undergoing treatment and raising our children. I learned to focus on my “circle of control” and take each day as it came.

I have been sharing my story at the high school where I currently work, speaking at Relay for Life and in health classes. After my stem cell transplant, I lost my father to Parkinson’s, which was devastating. During this time, I developed a dependence on Xanax. I made the difficult decision to go to rehab, spending a month away from my family at a facility in Florida. It was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but it allowed me to reclaim it. I’ve now been sober for more than two years, and my anxiety is under control.

I want to give hope to others who are young, raising families, and battling addiction or anxiety. My journey has been about hitting the reset button on every aspect of my life — physically (with the stem cell transplant), mentally, and professionally.

I am currently completing my student teaching to finish my second Master’s degree in Secondary Education. Becoming a teacher is my way of leaving a legacy and inspiring others.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.