Matt’s recovery and good health today attests to the miraculous efforts being made by LLS researchers to find the cures...made possible by generous donations to the Society by folks like you.
When my college roommate’s younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia over 35 years ago, it was a death sentence. Children only had a 4% survival rate back then...he died 3 months later. Today, through great strides made by LLS researchers, about 86% of children are cured!
I want Matt to continue to be one of those children. His prognosis is excellent. He's now competed “the continuation phase" - TWO years, of chemo treatments EVERY WEEK (though much less harsh than those he underwent while in the throes of T-cell AL), and regular checkups that involved painful spinal taps every three months, standard procedure for cancer survivors.
I dream of a day where the remaining 14%, whose treatments don't currently work, will instead reach adulthood and live to see their own children grow up...that will truly be a miracle!
THE FOLLOWING POSTS from January-April 2008 (in reverse order) chronicle this incredible young man's successful battle back from leukemia and my efforts to raise funds and complete the St Anthony's Olympic Distance Triathlon in his honor as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's TEAM IN TRAINING.
