Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

In August 2014, at age 48, I was literally in the best shape of my life. I was an avid cyclist, averaging more than 150 miles per week, leading groups of riders for my cycling club, and completing multiple 100-mile century rides in a single season. Over the course of just a few days, while cycling, I noticed a sudden setback in my performance.

Cary was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the fall of 2012. After spending more than 100 days in the hospital, undergoing intense chemo treatments, and blood transfusions Cary is now in remission. You can only imagine the struggle and heartache a cancer diagnoses was at only 33 years of age with a wife, 3 small boys, and a career.

At age 2, Callie started having trouble walking after a fall in early November 2015. After seeing a pediatric orthopedist for weeks and then a pediatric neurologist for an MRI of her brain and spine, we finally got an answer in January as to what was going on with our little girl.

Savanna, age ten, was diagnosed with high risk Pre B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in May 2014. She was in and out of the hospital for 114 days – close to half of a year!

Bryant, age five, was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in April 2014. At the time of his diagnosis he was the typical 3-year-old, who loved to say “NO.” As an independent guy, who wants to make all decisions, he didn’t have many choices for the first few months of treatment. 

Katie is a beautiful young girl who was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on January 24, 2015. Her cancer is particularly aggressive and presented with subtle signs such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and just a general change in personality. Her family took her to the ER just to find that she had masses in her lungs, liver and spleen.

Cassie Fetsch is a regular volunteer for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Minnesota chapter. When school is out, staff members can count on Cassie to be in the office folding letters, stuffing and labeling envelopes, counting Team In Training brochures, cleaning out drawers or putting together pizza boxes.

I was diagnosed with CML on May 25, 2010. Up until December 16, 2013 my disease was managed by oral chemo, then unexpectedly, I went into a blast crisis and progressed to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Aaron was taken to urgent care after he developed a rash that didn't seem right. The next day, he was admitted into The Children's Hospital, and 36 hours later he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

On June 3, 2014, I went to my local hospital for blood work after noticing unexplained bruising and experiencing a nose bleed. That day changed my life forever.