Leukemia

I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at the age of two in 1981. I was sent to Riley Hospital for Children for assessment and to create a treatment plan.  At the time of my diagnosis, my mom was a single mother of two young daughters. My father passed away from Ewing sarcoma in April 1979. I was eight months old, and my sister was four when he passed.

In November 2019, Trisha and her husband were thrilled to have given birth to her second daughter. At this time, she went to visit her OBGYN for her 6-Week Postpartum Exam, and to her surprise, her doctor noticed she had an enlarged spleen and liver. She was immediately instructed to go to the emergency room, where she was admitted for one week.

My dad was diagnosed with leukemia this past fall. Our family was left in utter shock as my dad was the epitome of health his whole life. From our yearly ski trips, hiking and biking excursions, and running four marathons (motivating me to run my first with him), there was nothing he couldn’t do. He still continues to be the strongest man I know five months into his battle.

In 2019, knots started to appear on my neck and jawline. My face was also massively swollen. I was unrecognizable. I had difficulty breathing, and major parts of my body were swollen as well. After several tests and two surgeries, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma (NHL). I was told that if the cancer had stages, I was considered stage 4.

My name is Jonathan, but I really like to be called "The Penny Man.” I have been collecting pennies for over 15 years and then donating them to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I first started collecting in high school in 2006 when a classmate of mine passed away from leukemia. My teacher, Mrs.

I first got involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) shortly after the passing of my boyfriend, John, in 2020. John "Poochy" fought a very long and hard battle against leukemia that came to an end in August 2020.  I was absolutely devastated and lost in a world without my love.

Just like many Filipinos, my beloved grandpa said “Yes” to the U.S. Navy to provide for his poor family in the Philippines. He gave his all, and no matter the circumstances, he stayed strong. My grandpa was a warrior with a golden heart. From open heart surgery to prostate cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), he fought for his life until his very last breath.