Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

(As told by Russ Parker’s wife Karen A. Parker)

In the fall of 2004, Russ was looking forward to a surfing trip to Fiji with his son Rusty and a group of good friends.  He was a real estate developer, surfer, soccer coach, swimmer and runner. Russ was rarely sick.

My name is Lori Timko and my first daughter Ava is an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor! It started in 2009 when she had become sick and the doctors discovered her blood counts were suppressed.

My story is not so unlike many others. In May 2005, just two months after I retired, I was looking forward to the start of a terrific period of my life spending time with my family, traveling, relaxation and golf That's when I got that dreaded call: “Mr. Blackman, you need to come into my office. We need to talk.”

My dad, my best friend, lost his short 15-day battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on January 23, 2008. Dad was 72, but not just any 72-year-old man. He had so much life in him. He was very active in his community and loved his wife (they were married for 44 years), his daughters (my sister and I), and especially his three grandchildren!

My daughter is Madeline Conley.  On January 7, 2014, three days after her 15th birthday,  she was diagnosed with leukemia (AML/MDS).  She was a high school cheerleader and cheer coach who was basically ripped out of her normal active life and immediately admitted to the hospital, where she spent the next five months. It was the scariest thing we've ever been through.

My daughter Payton is a two-time cancer survivor. She had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She had a cord blood transplant on March 8, 2012. She has a dog and a cat, and she loves camping, spending time with her family and playing outside with her friends. She thinks cancer is nasty and she hated it. She is a fighter.