Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL)

My husband Patrick had a chest cold for about two months. I finally convinced him to go to the urgent care and they did an X-ray. Soon they found that he had an abnormally shaped aorta, so they sent him to our primary for testing.

My first day of treatment was on July 18, 2018, at UCLA Medical. That's where I met Natasha. I was a bit nervous going in and not knowing what to expect so the nurses connected both of us. That same day Natasha found out she was in remission and I couldn't be happier for her. We both were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, going through the same treatment, and had the same doctor.

It started with a cough that would not go away. A cough so bad that it would stop him in his tracks and he'd have to rest afterwards for a few minutes just to catch his breath and regain strength. This was in March 2016. My husband, Mike, was like any other 31 year old "healthy" person. He figured the cough was allergies or a stubborn cold.

My daughter, Emily is my hero! She is 25 years old and was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2018. Her initial symptoms started with a cough and her losing weight while we lived in Texas, which we assumed was from her working her new job, which was very physical. We left Texas May 26 and drove from Fort Hood to Massachusetts, almost 2000 miles. None of us knew Emily was so sick.

In January 2016, I was diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin lymphoma. I was four months pregnant at the time, and it was decided to carry to term because this type of blood cancer is a slower spreading cancer.

In November 2016, Gina was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkins lymphoma (nodular sclerosis). She had just started her second year at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences where she studies diagnostic medical imaging in the sonography program which is an accelerated three year bachelor program.

Every survivor has a story. Mine started out on my way home from work one sunny June afternoon in 1983. My mom came to pick me up and we were riding in the car. I still remember the feeling of freedom as the wind blew through my long brown hair. Spring was always a season of rebirth to me after the long New York winters.

I want to tell you about my hero, my wife, Melissa. She is service-focused from the time she gets out of bed until the time she returns. She's been a part of Team In Training for the past three years and has raised well into five figures to help others. That's what made her Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis all the more ironic.