Leukemia

I am an awardee of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors. I currently hold an associate’s degree in science and am pursuing my bachelor's degree in biology at California State University, San Bernardino, (CSUSB). I am very grateful to be granted this scholarship to help pay for my tuition.

Chris is a retired Army colonel. He graduated from Temple University and set into life at home with his family when he was diagnosed with a hernia. In the process of preparing for healing, he was told the hernia was no longer his challenge as he had a rare form of leukemia.

Lucy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when she was 32-weeks pregnant with our son Watson. She underwent two rounds of chemo while our son was inside her. After giving birth to our healthy, 4 lb., premature baby, she immediately went back to treatment with more rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant.

In October of 2020, I became sick with a sinus infection. After a 10-day dose of antibiotics, I was still sick, and the doctor gave me a stronger dose of antibiotics. Once I finished the five-day dose, I felt better, but every day I had a headache. After 28 days of continuous headaches, I decided to call the doctor again and let him know.

I was experiencing a really bad sore throat for at least a month. It would come and go. No meds or steroid shots about the fourth week helped. I attended a breast cancer event at my family’s restaurant. I was feeling bad, literally in tears and in lots of pain. My mother took me to the nearest hospital immediately after. On October 10, 2021, my life as a newly single mom changed forever.

I have a unique story. In 1978 after being married for three weeks, my wife was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Seven months later she passed away.

Rick Ostroff and his family have a legacy of philanthropy with a heartfelt connection to a disease he never had. During the first three years of his life, he spent time on the leukemia floor of Children’s Hospital in Boston but eventually was found to have the critical illness of gamma globulin anemia rather than then-fatal leukemia.

I am 39 years old, a father of two boys and one girl ― Abdias, 12 years old; Ester, 10 years old; and Ben, 9 years old ― and a husband to my wife Erin for almost 14 years.