LLS Survivorship Series

LLS offers free, continuing education programs via our website.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is offering an information-packed, educational Survivorship Series through the end of the year with three programs in October, November and December. This is the latest in LLS’ online educational opportunities for patients and caregivers to learn more about the illness and for healthcare professionals requiring continuing education.

Participants can log in to the LIVE webcast and will have the opportunity to ask questions in real time to noted experts and leaders in the field. If you cannot make it to these dates, please remember that LLS offers free, continuing education programs that can be accessed at any time. Log on to our website at www.lls.org/webcasts to register and receive full information about the upcoming events that can help you navigate your cancer journey equipped with the knowledge and resources to help you thrive.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017 Why is Nutrition Important for Cancer Patients? 12:00pm ET; 11:00am CT; 10:00am MT; 9:00am PT

Learn more about:

• How good nutrition assists in promoting better treatment outcomes
• Managing side effects associated with diagnosis and treatment
• Nutrition resources for cancer patients

Speaker: Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, CDE Nutrition Educator and Registered Dietitian PearlPoint Cancer Support Nashville, TN

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017 Communicating with your Healthcare Team

12:00pm ET; 11:00am CT; 10:00am MT; 9:00am PT

Learn more about:

• Questions to ask the doctor about diagnosis and treatment 
• What you should share with your treatment team 
• How open communication can improve your quality of life

Speaker: Alison Mayer Sachs, MSW, CSW, OSW-C Director, Community Outreach & Cancer Support Services Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center at Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 Navigating the Financial Maze for Cancer Survivorship 12:00pm ET; 11:00am CT; 10:00am MT; 9:00am PT 

Learn more about: 

• The various costs associated with cancer care 
• Different types of insurance and assistance plans

Patient’s financial rights and where to get help Speaker: Joanna Fawzy Morales, Esq. CEO, Triage Cancer Culver City, CA Assistance

Please make plans to join us for these upcoming educational sessions. 

_______________________________________________________________________________

Dawn Guerrero is the Patient Access Manager of the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and author of this monthly blog series.  She has a Masters in Business Administration and has experience working with varied aspects of the healthcare industry. 

Contact Dawn:

Dawn.Guerrero@lls.org 
972-996-5905

New Patient Services Access Manager

We are excited to introduce the new North Texas Patient Access Manager. Dawn Guerrero comes to LLS after recently completing her Masters in Business Administration degree at the local Argosy University campus here in Dallas. She has experience with multiple non profits including the Red Cross in Virginia.  Dawn will be working directly with all of our patients. She took a few minutes to answer a few questions so we can all meet her.

1. Tell us about your nonprofit background.  
For seven years I worked with the American Red Cross in Virginia running the regional stem cell donor program.  There we educated and recruited donors and then facilitated the donation process when a match was found.

2. What attracted you to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?

When I saw the opening for Patient Access Manager, I knew it was the perfect fit for my skills and interests.  Now I can impact more lives by supporting patients directly.  
 
3. Tell us about your history in working with patients and the cancer industry.

My past experience was on the donor side of the transplant world.  My center facilitated both bone marrow transplants and peripheral blood cell transplants.  My center was one of the first centers to perform an allogeneic PBSC donation through the National Marrow Donor Program.
4. What are you most looking forward to with interacting with the North Texas Community?
Impacting lives and making sure the services that are needed in the community are readily available. 

5. What do you want people to know about you?
I grew up an avid soccer player and even played on a German women’s professional team when I was younger.  I continue my obsession with sports by now watching soccer, football, hockey and tennis as a fan. After tearing my ACL I decided to switch to a tamer sport, tennis, in order to stay active.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Dawn Guerrero is the Patient Access Manager of the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and author of this monthly blog series.  She has a Masters in Business Administration and has experience working with varied aspects of the healthcare industry. 

Contact Dawn:

Dawn.Guerrero@lls.org 
972-996-5905

Dallas Light The Night Honored Hero: Brennen Lyons

The Light The Night Walk (LTN) to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) celebrates participants in all stages of a cancer battle - patients, survivors, caregivers, friends and family.  Each year the LTN team selects a couple honored heroes for each walk site to serve as inspiration.

Brennen Lyons is one of the 2017 honored heroes for the Dallas Walk.  As you read his story, told by his mother, you will see why he was chosen for this honor.  He is such a strong little boy.

Brennen was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 2.

His mother tells his story in her own words.

"Just the word “Leukemia” was scary to me at the time.  I had no idea everything that went along with it and the journey we were about to be on as a family.  I guess the story really starts the first week of June.  I had to be admitted to the hospital to be monitored for a week before I could deliver Brennen’s little sister, Brooklyn.  It was the first time I had been away from Brennen overnight.  He started to be extremely cranky, not eating well and waking up at night.  We contributed it all to the fact he was away from his mommy for the first time.  I finally delivered my baby girl on June 11, 2010.  That day, my parents brought Brennen up to the hospital to see me and his new sister.  I immediately asked them if they thought his face looked puffy.  Everyone told me he looked fine and nothing was wrong.  However, when we got home, the crying, not eating well, etc. continued.  I called his pediatrician and got a same day appointment.  Verdict- ear infection.  Ok, no big deal.  He had several before this one.  But two days later and he was not improving and now his little lymph nodes were swollen.  Took him back to pediatrician and they explained the infection was just really bad and gave a stronger antibiotic.  Next morning, his little neck looked like he swallowed a golf ball.  Once again, back to the pediatrician.  This time, they decided to run labs.  Nurse came back in the room and explained the sample didn’t work and they needed to get another sample.  I didn’t think much of it.  About 10 minutes later, the pediatrician came in and started crying.  Instinctively, I started crying and I didn’t even know anything yet!  The fact the doctor was crying was a very bad sign!  She explained to me that her machine wouldn’t even read Brennen’s white blood count due to it being high and that she was certain he has either Lymphoma or Leukemia.  My heart sunk but a part of me thought she could be wrong.   She called Texas Children’s Hospital and told them we were on our way.

When we arrived, they were indeed waiting for us.  They instantly took us back to a room, ran labs, did an echocardiogram, x-rays- you name it.  Within a few hours, they confirmed he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  His WBC was so high they were afraid his little organs were going to shut down and he had a large mass around his heart and trachea.  He would have literally suffocated if I had not taken him in when I did and the mass continued to grow.  Due to his high counts, he was admitted to the ICU.  That day and the days to follow for the next 3 ½ years have left memories a mother should never have.  Watching what he had to go through was heartbreaking.

Brennen is truly my hero.  He would wear a smile even when in pain.  He endured 26 Lumbar punctures, 10 days of radiation, 6 cancer center hospital stays, 1 ICU stay, 7 blood transfusions, 2 bone marrow aspirations and 3 years, 3 months and 27 days of chemotherapy!!

I thank God every day for Brennen’s strength and courage to get through.  I am so grateful!  I pray for a cure so others do not have to go through this."

Inspired by Brennen? Consider walking alongside him on Saturday, November 11th at Trinity Groves in Dallas. Registration is now open. 

North Texas Cancer Expo: Keynote Speaker Announced

KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED:
Lila Javan
Two-Time Cancer Survivor & Founder of Climb 2 Cure

The North Texas Chapter is honored to introduce Lila Javan as the keynote speaker for the 2017 North Texas Blood Cancer Conference.  Lila Javan is a two time cancer survivor and filmmaker who has photographed award-winning features, commercials, documentaries and short films. She is also the founder of Climb2Cure, a new LLS fundraising campaign.

Let's take a minute to meet Lila.

"My name is Lila Javan. In 2010, my life was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Leukemia (AML). I was told that my only chance for survival was a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. I had a bone marrow transplant that fall – my sister was my donor – and after a year in turmoil, I recovered and rebuilt my life as a cancer survivor.

In 2014, my next adventure was to be a solo trip to Africa to climb Kilimanjaro. The very week that I was booking my flights, I discovered that my cancer was back. In September of 2014, after another summer of chemo, I had a second transplant. This time it was stem cells from an unrelated donor.

While I was in the hospital, a friend took a window frame and placed a beautiful photograph of Kilimanjaro in it. He hung this on my wall opposite my bed. Throughout my treatment, I would
stare at that window and visualized myself climbing the mountain. My doctors and nurses all asked about the picture and I would tell them about my magical trip. An amazing thing happened - my solo trip became a group trip. Now, a group of 14 doctors, nurses, therapists and friends all wanted to journey with me to climb the highest peak in Africa.

I reached out to LLS to see if we could do the trek as a fundraiser for them, and "Climb2Cure" was born.  My solo climb evolved into a new Team In Training fundraising platform for LLS that will continue for years to come and expand to other mountain tops." 

 Lila's team raised an astonishing $133,000 for their climb.  She is turning her journey into a documentary film and already has her sights set on a new climb: Mount Everest.  Lila and her oncologist were interviewed after their climb for this NBC segment.

* * * *

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Lila Javan speak by registering today for the FREE North Texas Cancer Expo that will be held on Saturday, September 16th at the Omni Hotel in Dallas. 

Meet the Fort Worth Boy & Girl of the Year

The Fort Worth Man & Woman of the Year campaign is off to a strong start.  The six candidates are raising funds in honor of Katie Thomson and Jaden Lowery, our Boy and Girl of the Year.  The Boy & Girl of the Year are local blood cancer survivors who represent thousands of children and adults who are fighting blood cancers every day. 

Meet Katie Thomson

On January 24, 2015, when she was 10 years old, Katherine (Katie) was diagnosed with High Risk B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. When her cancer did not go into remission after the first round of chemo, Katie’s diagnosis was changed from “High Risk” to “Very High Risk”. With the new diagnosis came a new treatment plan, and Katie learned that she would need to receive a bone marrow transplant. Katie spent 10 weeks on the hematology/oncology floor at Cook Children’s and another 4 weeks in the Bone Marrow Unit. She received her transplant on April 22, 2015 and is doing very well! She enjoys all types of art projects, dancing, spending time with family and cuddling with her dog, Dolly.

Meet Jaden Lowery

Jaden, is a courageous 7 year old that fought cancer like a warrior! Jaden was 6 years old, and five weeks into his first grade year at a new school, when he was diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoma. Everywhere he goes, he somehow manages to touch the heart of others. He adores his little sister, Cameron (1 year old), and thrives to teach her everything he knows. Today, he has monthly doctor visits consisting of blood draws and physical exams by his hematologist. He still enjoys church, karate, soccer, and going to school. His favorite subject is math. Jaden wants to be a surgeon when he grows up to help other children. Jaden's parents say that they are extremely blessed and extremely thankful for the wonderful physicians and staff at Cooks Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth Texas.

* * * *

The Fort Worth MWOY campaign is running alongside the Dallas MWOY campaign.  The Grand Finale Gala will be help on Saturday , May 20th at the Fort Worth Convention Center in the main ballroom. Tickets are now available for purchase.

We wish all of the candidates the best of luck!

www.mwoy.org/ntx 

Fort Worth Kicks Off Its Inaugural Man & Woman of the Year Campaign

Six well-known Fort Worth business and community leaders are kicking off the inaugural Man & Woman of the Year (MWOY) campaign tonight.  The event, which is a signature campaign of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), is a ten week fundraising blitz among business and civic leaders in the Fort Worth community.  Each candidate competes for donations and the candidate with the most is revealed during the Grand Finale Gala and named the Man and the Woman of the Year.  The candidates and their campaign teams will launch the 10-week fundraising blitz at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House on Thursday, March 9th at 5:00 p.m.  

The 2017 candidates represent a diverse group of industries and connections to the LLS mission.

Michael Crain

Briggs Freemen, Agent

Britton Douglas

Trinity Infrastructure Associate Counsel

Dr. Ken Heym

Cook Children’s Hospital, Medical Director, Oncology Program

Sheila Jackson

Principle Transport Group & JA Jackson Construction, CEO

Amy Novacek

Philanthropist

Erin Wilde

92.1 HANK FM, DJ

Gina Cook, General Manager for Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in Dallas, resides with her husband, Doug Cook, in Fort Worth, and is the chair of the inaugural event.  She was a 2015 Woman of the Year candidate in Dallas.

The candidates will be raising money in honor of two young Fort Worth Honored Heroes.  Jaden Lowry is the Boy of the Year and Katie Thomson is the Girl of the Year.  Both are currently in the maintenance phase of their treatment regimen for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).  ALL is the number one cancer killer of children under 18 years old.  

The campaign will begin and end with two elegant events: the kickoff celebration on Thursday, March 9th at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, and the Grand Finale Gala, which will be held on Saturday, May 20th at the Fort Worth Convention Center in the main ballroom. 

The Fort Worth MWOY campaign will run in addition to the Dallas campaign.  2017 marks the third year Dallas has hosted this campaign.  During its brief history, the Dallas MWOY campaign has raised more than $900,000.  

We wish all of the candidates the best of luck!

Same Cause, New Experience

We are excited to extend a personal invitation to you and your family to join us at our 2017 North Texas Light The Night events.

This year we have enhanced our Walk events by incorporating captivating moments throughout the night including a powerful survivor ceremony, a peaceful and emotional remembrance pavilion and a grand finale firework show!

Survivors celebrate by carrying white lanterns and taking part in an inspiring survivor ceremony within the survivor circle while the white beam of hope reaches up to the sky illuminating the darkness.  

Supporters participate in the walk with their families and friends, in celebration of survivors and the strides we are making to find cures.  

Those we have lost are honored at the Remembrance Pavilion where family, friends, and co-workers can leave tributes to their loved ones. 

Please consider becoming involved by forming a Walk team or by simply attending the events.  When we walk, cancer runs. 

Mark your calendars for November 5th for our Fort Worth Walk and November 11th for our Dallas Walk. 

More details about Light The Night can be found at www.lightthenight.org/ntx. 

Meet Dean Smith: Over the Edge Honored Hero

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is honored to introduce you to the Dean Smith, the Honored Hero for the North Texas Chapter's newest campaign: Over the Edge.  Smith, currently in treatment for multiple myeloma, is a perfect fit for this new event -- a thrill seeking Texan!

The Texas-born stuntman Dean Smith, right, with John Wayne
making “The Alamo” in 1959.

Dean Smith is a colorful Texan and Olympic gold medal winner who spent a half century as a Hollywood stuntman and actor, appearing in ten John Wayne movies and doubling for a long list of actors as diverse as Michael Landon, Steve Martin,  Robert Redford, and Roy Rogers.  Dean Smith has taken falls from galloping horses, engaged in fistfights with Kirk Douglas and George C. Scott, and replicated one of the most famous scenes in movie history by climbing on a thundering team of horses to stop a runaway stagecoach.

Growing up he was a wishful and determined small-town boy.  He ran track for the University of Texas, set college records, won an Olympic gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Games, and played professional football. He then spent the next 50 years as a motion picture and television stuntman. His long list of honors includes membership in the Stuntman’s Hall of Fame, the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Dean Smith currently lives on a ranch in Ivan, Texas, with his wife, Debby, and son, Finis. He is battling Multiple Myeloma.

Dean's wife tell his story in her own words:

"In January of 2005, Dean was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He lived in Graham at the time but was hospitalized in Fort Worth. After the initial diagnosis and treatment, Dean was sent home from the hospital with a PIC line in his upper arm where he was administered medicine.  He had home health nurses coming in regularly to check on him. Dean couldn’t walk and was in a wheelchair at first.  As time went on, he slowly progressed and went from the wheelchair, to the walker, to a cane, then back on his own two feet walking.  Soon he was back to riding his horse. For the next 6 years, we obsessed with his cancer numbers and we checked them every month.  They tend to go up and then back down again. Today he doesn’t seem his age although I have noticed him slowing down a bit.  We are very blessed to have good doctors and for Dean taking care of himself as a young man.  When Dean was first diagnosed the Doctors gave him 2 years to live.  Now, 11 years later he is still enjoying life.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is going OVER THE EDGE of the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel to raise awareness and money to help create a world without blood cancers. 2017 will be the first time LLS is offering this event to a limited number of participants.

Take the challenge and rappel down the side of one of the tallest buildings in Fort Worth to help LLS raise $250,000 for the mission.

Get all of the details on our website here.

Questions?

Contact Brian Brooks

(817)288-2635

Brian.Brooks@lls.org

Patient Access Manager: National Social Worker Month

March is National Social Worker Month and we salute the more than 25,000 social workers in the North Texas community.  This year's theme  "Forging Solutions out of Challenges" perfectly encapsulates the work that these individuals do for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and our patients on a daily basis.  Social workers are critical to a patient who is looking for help and guidance while trying to juggle a cancer diagnosis, arduous treatment regimen, financial and legal concerns, just to name a few.

While most people think of social workers as support during treatment, they are truly a part of the entire cancer journey.  This is why LLS is dedicated to help these dedicated individuals stay up to date on the latest treatments, therapies and support services for these patients.  LLS offers 4.5 FREE CEUs to social workers as part of the Blood Cancer Conference & Cancer Expo.

We work closely with the social workers and case management teams to ensure that LLS resources are available to all who can benefit from our services.  Every day there are men and women right here in our community who go above and beyond the call of duty to help families during their blood cancer journey.  

In honor of national social work month, I invite you to thank a social worker who has touched your life.  My heartfelt gratitude to all the providers who are dedicated to serving our blood cancer community every day! 

Your friend, 

Seetha
_________________________________________________________________________________

Seetha Modi is the Patient Access Manager of the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and author of this monthly blog series.  She has an Masters in Public Health and has experience working with varied aspects of the healthcare industry, including hospitals, the CDC and other health-related nonprofit organizations.

Contact Seetha:

Seetha.Modi@lls.org

(972) 996-5905

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Lone Star Blood Cancer Conference

Everything is Bigger In Texas

  

And the annual Lone Star Blood Cancer Conference is no exception.  The North Texas Chapter is thrilled to announce several BIG changes coming to this unique North Texas Event.

NEW DATE
September 9 - 10, 2016
We are pushing this event to Blood Cancer Awareness Month and are expanding it to two days of incredible presentations, inspiring Honored Hero talks and more!  Much more!
 

NEW NAME
North Texas Blood Cancer Conference & Cancer Expo
The event will still continue to focus on blood cancer advancements and treatment options but the NEW expo component of the day will have elements that will be beneficial to the patients and caregivers of all cancers.

NEW ELEMENT
Cancer Expo
Explore resources for patients, survivors and their families.  Learn about healthy eating, nutrition, and wellness, watch exciting cooking demonstrations, peruse vendor booths for products and activities for life after cancer.  The two day Cancer Expo will be available before, during and inbetween sessions.

WE ARE MOVING

Sheraton Hotel
The event outgrew its space and will be moving to the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Dallas

NOT EVERYTHING IS CHANGING
We are keeping our most unique elements:
Renowned Researchers Presenting the Latest Advancements
Free Continuing Education Credits for Nurses & Social Workers
Break-out Sessions, Based on Diagnosis
Latest on Survivorship Issues
Sessions Lead by Experts in the Hematology/Oncology field

WE NEED YOUR HELP
We want to know what you'd like to see during this event.  Please click here to fill out a brief survey to let us know specific topics and vendors you would like in visit during the conference.

Thank you to the North Texas Cancer Conference's Generous Presenting Sponsor:

Meet the 2015 Big D Climb Co-Chair: Loan Huynh

Loan Huynh is co-chairing the 2015 Big D Climb with Julie Westbrook Eisenberg.  Loan wears many hats for the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  She is a member of the Board of Trustees, a volunteer, advocate and most importantly, a blood cancer survivor.  Meet this dynamic and engaging woman and learn more about what she and Julie have in store for the Big D Climb.

What is your connection to LLS and its mission? 
I am a two-time survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).  I was originally diagnosed in 2005 when I lived in Chicago.  After treatments and going into remission, I moved down to DFW  where I relapsed 30 months later.  After another bout of treatments and a bone marrow transplant, I wanted to help this cause.  It is because of organizations like LLS, that I am able to be here today.  The research they do to find treatments and someday a cure has impacted me directly.

How many years have you been involved with the Big D Climb & in what capacity?  
I participated in the very first Big D Climb!  For the first year we had a team of 13 close friends and family.  The following year our team grew to about 25 which included several co-workers from Ivie & Associates.  It really surprised us and Warren & Kay Ivie (Ivie & Associates owners) how much this event inspired our associates.  From then on Ivie & Associates have been corporate chairs and sponsor of this great event.  Our team grows every year!  Last year we had over 140 climbers and volunteers!  We expect to exceed that this year!

What are you most excited about for the upcoming Big D Climb?  
I think the excitement is the same every year for me.  It doesn't get old.  It's so cool to see crowds of people gathering to support such an amazing cause!  The event gets bigger and bigger with more sponsors, more activities and this year more stairs.  Yikes!

Why should people get registered for the climb now?  
You should register and start training now!  It's great to get a jump start on the training and fundraising.  You definitely want to get in on early registration to take advantage of the lower registration price.  But you want to register, get your team started and get the excitement going.  We're all there to raise money and awareness for blood cancer research but if you can put on a tu-tu, climb some stairs and have some fun in the mean time, all the better!

Tell us your strategy for conquering a taller climb this year.  
Slow and steady wins the race!  :)

Register today at www.bigdclimb.org

Ivie & Associates 2014 Big D Climb team

Fundraising, Lonnie, and a Tutu

People considering signing up for Team In Training often site a fear of fundraising as their biggest hurdle to signing up.  Meet Lonnie and his tutu.  Below is a touching fundraising letter he posted on his Facebook page to solicit donations to help him reach his fundraising commitment.  Hopefully this inspires you to sign up and make your TEAM part of your family, just like Lonnie did.


Dear Family and Friends,

I know most of you either didn’t know I was a runner or were surprised when you found out. It all started when I was talked into signing up for my first half marathon (first race at all actually) and decided maybe I should start running to get ready for it. Completing that was an awesome feeling and I remember thinking, wow…people who do full marathons are CRAZY. Then after my 3rd half, I decided maybe I wanted to be crazy too and I signed up for a full marathon. I had some work to do.

I joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program because I needed the help training, support of others, and the motivation to see it through. I wanted a program that had years of experience and that the money went to charity – working towards a cure for blood cancers. They became family. I ran with these people who started as strangers through the heat of the summer…hours and hours, miles and miles, bucket and buckets and buckets of sweat. So imagine the irony when weeks before the race that had already changed my life, I was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully I was able to complete the race before surgery with zero impact to my health. And even more thankfully, I am now cancer free. There are so many who aren’t so fortunate.

Now I understand why my TEAMmates run back to back seasons with Team In Training and never leave. I now realize the fight isn’t to reach the finish line, it’s to reach a cure. And I’ll run until we do. I’m entering my second season with TEAM and would like your help. I promise to do the training, but I need your support for the fundraising. I have three events scheduled and will risk total humiliation in return for fundraising dollars. You will receive an opportunity to support me for each one.

Here’s my proposal. Challenge #1 is the Dolphin Challenge over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. I will be doing an 8K on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday (8K + half = 17.96 miles). Every person who donates $17.96 or more to my fundraising page will receive a picture of me running it in a tutu. Yeah, that’s right, a tutu. Stop that laughter now! This is serious fundraising. You will get a similar email before each of my three events. OR…you can donate $100 now to receive all 3 photos of the events and I won’t send you an email each time. And there might be a video included if you choose this option. Here’s something to whet your appetite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LUdU_ydHA

What better way to spend part of that tax refund than on a nice, life-saving, tax deductible donation to find a cure for cancer? If your employer offers matching gift, please also remember to include that as well. Fundraising page:http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/heels14/Miranda

Thank you so much for your support.

Lonnie

Freebie Friday: A Jazzy Christmas Celebration

The North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is thankful to have the support of so many individuals.  Many participate in our local events while others make donations throughout the year and others create third party events to benefit LLS and our fight to create a world without blood cancers.

A Jazzy Christmas Celebration with John Holiday and his Big Band is an opportunity for you to get into the Holiday spirit with a fun evening out with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the North Texas Chapter.

Happy Holidays!

Mission Monday: Advocate for Children

Each year, 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer. We can help them.

The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act of 2013 would take the revenue from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and reassign it to the National Institute of Health to improve treatments for childhood cancer, diabetes, and many other pediatric diseases.

We need 200 co-sponsors to make this bill a reality – CLICK HERE see where your Representative stands and send your message below:

"As an advocate with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I want to thank you for signing on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act. 

Each year, over 140,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with blood cancers, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States. Among them are more than 13,500 children who will face cancer in the coming year -- far too many, especially when we can do something to help them.

That’s why I’m writing to you today to thank you for co-sponsoring the Kids First Research Act of 2013, which will increase funding for pediatric medical research activities administered through the Common Fund at the National Institutes of Health. By turning off the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and instead designating this revenue to expand pediatric disease research, we can get closer to a cure for blood cancers and for many other childhood diseases, all within the current budget.

Thanks again for supporting H.R. 2019."

Thank you for helping us create a world without blood cancers.

Freebie Friday: Celebrating Male Survivors

November has come to represent more than Thanksgiving and the kick-off of the Christmas season in the United States.  For many, November has transformed into Movember - a month about raising awareness of men's health issues.  Here at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) we are taking this month as an opportunity to celebrate male blood cancer survivors.

CELEBRATING SURVIVORS

Today Zach Rigby is a senior at the University of Texas, the Vice President of the Silver Spurs (a student organization dedicated to the care of Bevo), and most importantly, a survivor.  Zach was diagnosed with adult Hodgkin's lymphoma on his 16th birthday.  After a difficult treatment plan, he was declared to be in remission and has been living an active, healthy lifestyle ever since.

Zach's father, Steve Rigby, is currently the chairman of the North Texas Board of Trustees.  Recently the Rigby family hosted Bevo at a fundraiser before the University of Texas vs. New Mexico State game and raised $7,500 at the event for pediatric blood cancer research.

We are thrilled to count Zach among the thousands of blood cancer survivors in North Texas.

Mission Monday: Champion of Coverage

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been selected as a "Champion of Coverage" by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  LLS joined more than 100 national organizations and businesses that have volunteered to help Americans learn about the health care coverage available in a non-partisan manner.

Our goal is to ensure that blood cancer patients and their families have the information needed to make an informed decision about purchasing health care coverage.  In order to do this, LLS has created a dedicated section on the website, www.LLS.org/ACA, which provides helpful information and links to useful tools, such as the cancer insurance checklist that LLS helped to develop.  The LLS Information Resource Center is also available to answer questions Monday - Friday from 9a.m. - 6p.m. at (800) 955-4572.

LLS continues to pursue opportunities that provide greater access to information and resources for blood cancer patients.

Mission Monday: LLS Featured as Leader in Venture Philanthropy and Sceince

In April, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was invited to participate in the 2013 Milken Institute Global Conference, where some of the world's most extraordinary people gather to explore solutions to today's most pressing challenges in business, health, government, and education. Speakers included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Vice President Al Gore, Microsoft's Bill Gates, Mexican business magnate Carlos Slim, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA).

Louis DeGennaro, PhD, LLS Chief Mission Officer, joined venture capitalists, pharmaceutical and biotech executives and board members from Faster Cures at three different panel discussions to explore funding options for advancing innovative research. He participated in discussions about why high risk long-term investments are needed to turn medical innovation into new therapies, the two different pathways within the LLS Therapy Acceleration Program, and funding options to support cutting-edge research.

Many participants at the conference expressed their appreciation and support for LLS research. Executive director of Faster Cures Margaret Anderson said, "LLS has been transforming the blood cancer space," while NIH Director Dr Francis Collins conveyed a similar sentiment, "LLS is doing great science. We are so proud of our National Center for Advancing Translational Science partnership with you."

Freebie Friday: Meet Melissa Garner

My name is Melissa Garner, and I am the Patient Advocate Manager with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

A grant from Baylor University Medical Center funds my unique position.  I work with patients and families, providing them with information about LLS and patient services, in addition to providing education and support groups.  I am on-site at Baylor to assist with any issues a blood cancer patient, or family member, may have.

What amazes me the most about this job, and what I feel is the most rewarding aspect of it, is being able to listen to people’s stories.  I am always amazed at the strength, resilience, faith, and hope that I see each week. 

While confronting what is often the scariest event in their lives (a blood cancer diagnosis usually followed by chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant), people more often than not show just how strong they truly are.

Of course, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a great deal of pain and vulnerability that goes along with it.  It just means that people find a place within themselves to connect to faith and hope too.

This is also very true for the caregivers as well.  Just today I talked to a caregiver who said, “My husband (the patient) has always been the strong one, not me.  I never was, until now. “

She is balancing a home life, young children, and being there for her husband at the hospital.  She has been here with him since April, and this is his second go at a stem cell transplant.  She shared with me how scared she felt, but at the same time, she knew she was surrounded by a strong faith and a support system of friends.  All of this gave her strength.

I get the honor and privilege of listening to people share stories like this all the time.  I feel their stories are such gifts to anyone who hears them.  I am better for hearing them. 

I also really want people to know that we at LLS are there for them throughout their blood cancer journey.  I typically will end my visit with them saying something like this:

"Please know that LLS is in your corner and that we are here for you.   Even if it’s a year from now or sometime down the road, please know that you can always call me and we will be there for you.  Even if it’s something we can’t answer for you directly, please know we will help you find out who you can talk to.  Just know we are here for you." 

When I say this, I see their faces brighten and a real sense of relief comes over them.  I am proud to be affiliated with LLS Patient Services because being there is so important to our patients and families.

Mission Monday: Bruce Cleland at 25th Anniversary Gala

Bruce Cleland (center) with North Texas Team In Training staff
and Team In Training Vice President Chris Fenton (far right)
at the Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala on June 30, 2013.

When Team In Training (TNT) founder Bruce Cleland visited North Texas for the Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala, he told the inspiring story of how he and a group of friends created the groundbreaking charity training program in 1988.  He also shared a number of personal photographs with Gala attendees.

Bruce introduced the Gala crowd to his motivation: his young daughter, Georgia.  She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was just two years old. 

Bruce shared the picture above of Georgia during her tough treatment with her doll, which she named Dolly.  When diagnosed, her chances of surviving were 50-50.  Fortunately for the Cleland family, Georgia would be a success story

After Georgia's treatment, Bruce decided to fundraise for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (then The Leukemia Society of America) by recruiting a group of individuals to run in the New York City Marathon.  He set out on a recruiting process of finding not only runners but also corporate backers to fund their effort.  The picture above is the first Team In Training team ever formed.  The picture was taken after one of their first training runs.

After months of training and fundraising, all 38 members of the first Team In Training team crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon.  The group raised $320,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and blood cancer research and created a world-wide phenomenon of endurance charity training programs.

Above is a picture of Bruce finishing the New York City Marathon in honor of Georgia.  The bright tights, a gift from the team inagural TNT team the night before the race, are still around and making appearances.

They spent much of the night of the North Texas Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala tied around his neck like a cape.

And Georgia Cleland?  She is following in her father's very famous footsteps and helping to raise money for other blood cancer patients.  Georgia, now 28, finished her first TNT event in 2012 and is currently training for the San Francisco Women's Marathon this October.