Adults

I was born in the inner city of Philadelphia, PA in 1951, I currently live near Dallas, Texas. My professional career in the Information Technology Industry lasted over 40 years prior to my retirement in January 2019. In 2002 I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and many aspects of my life changed forever.

I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2021 after a routine physical after my 50th birthday. It was a complete shock and I was scared and unsure of what my future would look like. With the help of my doctors and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), I feel prepared to make informed decisions about my future.

I had bariatric surgery on May 11, 2022. At the time, I weighed just under 600 pounds, and I understood that there was a higher possibility for complications. My three-hour procedure turned into a six-hour procedure, and my overnight stay in the hospital turned into a week.

I was recently diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). My mom passed away from pulmonary fibrosis right before Thanksgiving 2022. She never smoked and had none of the risk factors that led to that type of disease. I have a 2½-year-old daughter, and I am an older mom, so I figured I should get a physical to make sure I and my lungs were healthy.