The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - South Central Texas

Exciting breakthrough! 📣 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new targeted immunotherapy for adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. This breakthrough offers new hope for these patients as this blood cancer becomes harder to treat with each relapse. Learn more about this promising treatment and LLS's ongoing efforts to advance lymphoma research 👉 https://bit.ly/3LTQqfH

Meet the incredible 2024 Visionaries of the Year National Winners who are helping to make our vision for a world without blood cancer come true! 👇❤️🌐🌟

🥇 National Visionary of the Year: Ashley Snider! As an acute myeloid leukemia survivor herself, Snider's steadfast determination was personal. This May, she celebrated five years post-transplant with no relapses.

🥈 National Runner-Up: Claire Warren! Claire was motivated to fundraise in honor of her friend‘s daughter, who was diagnosed with leukemia at just three years old.

🎉 National All Star Visionary of the Year: Bill Rawlings! Bill fundraised in honor of founder of Atlanta Fine Homes and International Realty, Jenny, who is currently battling cancer and his father-in-law, Terry, who has been battling CLL for over a decade.

⭐ National All Star Runner-Up: Brian Leigh! Brian is a Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) survivor, he's currently in his 16th year of remission.

🥳 First-Ever National Team Member of the Year: Joe Cupoli! New this year, LLS named Joe Cupoli National “Team Member of the Year” for his extraordinary impact. Having run as a candidate in 2019, and again as an All Star in 2021, this year, Joe decided to support his partner Kat in her campaign.

These individuals are truly making a difference for blood cancer patients and their families – we’re so grateful. ✨ Learn more about each candidate and their efforts 👉 https://bit.ly/3Sg6Faq

"Discovering I had blood cancer brought a whirlwind of emotions—fear, curiosity about my future, and a belated clarity regarding months of fatigue and breathlessness misattributed to asthma. Seeing lymphoma on my chest X-ray was a relief and anxiety-inducing all at once.

I want other families to understand that they are not alone. They need not feel isolated or helpless, as there are numerous online and local communities, they can join to connect with others facing similar struggles. By uniting and supporting each other, we can make a profound difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancer.

I am pursuing a career in physical medicine and rehabilitation with dreams of helping others who undergo life-changing injuries or illnesses live life to the fullest, regardless of what limitations their conditions may have imposed upon them!”

Since primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma became a part of Luigi’s life, it has inspired him to help others. Share your unique experience and connect with our community here 👉 https://bit.ly/3y7EUK3

Big news for blood cancer patients! 🎉 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for earlier use in treating B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). This immunotherapy offers new hope for adults and children. We’re championing research that harnesses the immune system to treat blood cancer. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3LdGld4

Did you know? 👇

❤️‍🩹 42% of cancer patients exhaust their entire life savings within two years of diagnosis.

❤️‍🩹 1 in 4 cancer patients delay, forgo, or dangerously alter treatment due to cost.

We're dedicated to not only developing life-saving therapies but also ensuring equitable access for all.

Read about our work to tackle healthcare inequities and how we’re providing crucial support to blood cancer patients in need 🔎👉 https://bit.ly/3LgL3Xx

Improving Blood Cancer Survival Takes More than New Drug Discovery | Leukemia and Lymphoma Society In my years as a practicing hematologist-oncologist and now as chief medical officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society financial assistance LLS Lobby Day in Washington DC-- With the costs of cutting-edge cancer therapies skyrocketing, forty-two percent...

Let’s give a round of a applause for our 2024 Equity in Access Research Program Grantees! 👏👏👏 We have awarded nearly $6.5 million to uncover and address social, economic, and environmental barriers to blood cancer treatment and care. These efforts aim to inform changes in healthcare policy and practice that may lead to better health outcomes.

🔬 Carma Bylund, PhD & Stephanie Staras, PhD, MPH, University of Florida
🔬 Raymond Mailhot, MD, MPH & Erin Mobley, PhD, MPH, University of Florida
🔬 Shazia Nakhoda, MD, Linda Fleisher, PhD, MPH & Zachary Frosch, MD, MS, Fox Chase Cancer Center
🔬 Anushree Vichare, PhD, MBBS, Clese Erikson, M.P.Aff & Qian “Eric” Luo, PhD, The George Washington University

Support for the LLS Equity in Access Research Program is provided by: Royalty Pharma and AstraZeneca.

Find all the details on our grantees and their ground-breaking work 👉 https://bit.ly/4cV9cPe

That’s a WRAP! ❤️ A special thank you to Subaru of America, Inc. and its retailers for supporting blood cancer patients and families with warmth and hope this June during . 🙌 Together, we distributed countless blankets, care kits, resources, and messages of hope. Subaru matched your generous donations, doubling the impact for blood cancer patients and families.

Parenting a child who has is an experience that changes you forever. And losing that child causes a deep pain that few understand.

At 3, Phil endured treatment variations for his leukemia until all reasonable options were exhausted. And after almost 4 years of this, he passed away.

“Being Phil's mother is a gift I am eternally grateful for. Some days, I still struggle with the reality that we will never understand why this happened.” -Katie, Phil’s mom

No one should have to endure the heartbreak of losing a child to blood cancer. 💔 On , we honor those who have suffered this incredible loss, like Katie, and remember the lives of their babies.

Katie takes “Phil time” to remember her sweet boy and shares his story as an LLS Dare to Dream Ambassador, hoping to continue the efforts to transform treatment and care for all kids with blood cancer. Read Phil and Katie’s story here 👉 https://bit.ly/3XQvNYY

Blood cancer breakthrough! ⭐ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for certain patients with low- to intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), reducing the need for frequent blood transfusions. This innovative treatment preserves a better quality of life for those living with MDS-related anemia. Learn more about this life-changing development 👉 https://bit.ly/3W8PWHh

What’s a question you wish people would ask you about living with blood cancer?

When you hear - “you have cancer” - life changes. survivors summed up their lives as survivors in just six words. What are your six words? __ __ __ __ __ __​

At every stage of your survivorship experience, we’ve got resources and information to help 👉 https://bit.ly/4eB62ln

Meet our Student Visionaries of the Year! 📣🎉🙌 We’re blown away by these young leaders raising awareness and funds for LLS! 💪✨

🌟 National Student Visionaries of the Year: Team Hope for a Cure (Los Angeles, CA)
👏 Members: Lia Bhatia & Hailey Miller
📈 Impact: $649,124

🌟 National Runner-Up: Team CPA, Secure the Cure (Nashville, TN)
👏 Members: Sophia Crockett & Emma Weaver
📈 Impact: $646,537

🌟 National Team Member of the Year
👏 Andrew Lim, Team Banking for a Cure (Houston, TX)
📈 Impact: $114,553

Congratulations and THANK YOU to our winning teams! You’re paving the way to a brighter future! 🌍❤️ Learn more about our Student Visionary winners 👉 https://bit.ly/3XGox1q

A blood cancer diagnosis can feel isolating. But that’s why we are here—to bring together resources and a community of support. Together, we are better. ​

At 10, Nik was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Confined to a hospital bed for months, he grappled with loneliness, infections, and side effects from medications. Now 17 years after completing treatment, he's stronger than ever. Throughout his experience with blood cancer, Nik found The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), and with it, solace in connecting with fellow patients and families, and hope for the future. “I'm proud to be part of the LLS family,” he shares. ​

Your donations during June will be matched by Subaru, doubling the impact for kids like Nik! Donate now, and your donation will go 2x as far! 👉 https://bit.ly/45Futdb

YOU can be the change! ❤️ By starting a fundraiser with LLS, you can bring hope and brighter futures to those affected by blood cancer. Every effort counts – let’s do this, together 👉 https://bit.ly/4bprTsW

YOU can bring light to the darkness of cancer this fall by joining us at an LLS Light The Night event! ✨ Our colored lanterns represent:

🤍 Celebrating patients & survivors
❤️ Supporting friends and family
💛 Honoring loved ones lost to blood cancer

We hope to see you there! ❤️ Find a Light The Night event near you and register today 👉 ​https://bit.ly/3KYtjjx

If you know, you know 🫶 Did we miss any? ❤️

Cancer survivorship not only comes with new terms, but often a new normal. We’re here to help with support and resources 👉 https://bit.ly/3XyZXzx

🗣️ Breaking ground in pediatric blood cancer research! This , we’re proud to partner with Adam de Smith, PhD from Keck Medicine of USC, to uncover the roots of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children.

His research focuses on identifying genetic factors and understanding how ALL starts before birth. By doing this, we aim to pinpoint children at the highest risk and create personalized prevention strategies.

Learn more about his efforts 👉 https://bit.ly/3VHw6me

"I moved to Chicago in May 2022. Recently, I completed my joint PhD in Social Work and Psychology and was offered a job at Google. In mid-July, I began experiencing symptoms that worried me―difficulty breathing during exercise, intense chest and back pain, spider veins on my chest, puffiness in my face, and fatigue. Over the next three months, I visited four different doctors about these symptoms, all of whom diagnosed them as anxiety/stress or asthma. Feeling embarrassed, I tried to avoid seeking medical help. However, while at work, I started coughing up blood. Consequently, I consulted a telehealth doctor who advised me to go straight to the ER. A CT scan revealed a grapefruit-sized mass in my chest, enlarged lymph nodes, and fluid in my lungs.

After a biopsy a few days later―on my birthday―I received a diagnosis of primary mediastinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PMBL).

Upon returning to work, I found myself missing the community of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) survivors I had during treatment. I searched for a community at work and discovered a group called ‘Cancer Survivors Google,’ which had been considered ‘abandoned.’ I took the initiative to lead and revitalize this community. Now, we have a community of over 400 employees and a leadership team of over 20 people! Leading this community has been one of the most fulfilling endeavors I've ever undertaken."

Together, we find strength in our shared experience through , emphasizing the power of healing with community. If you or a loved one need support, contact our Information Specialists at 800-955-4572 or visit our resources for survivorship ❤️👉 https://bit.ly/3KRiT53

When fear whispers, let hope roar.

“My husband, Justin, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in June 2021. At the time, he was a healthy, energetic 33-year-old dad of three. Throughout treatment, my husband had very difficult moments. He went into septic shock from a blood infection, had an ICU stay, and had to get both his hips replaced because of an infection. He couldn’t walk for months. He had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in both legs and then had to stay at a rehabilitation center. After that, he was hospitalized a few times with pneumonia while he finished out treatment. This beautiful man never gave up and worked even harder when he was knocked down.” - Cassie, Justin’s wife. Despite his diagnosis, Justin was also a dad, husband, PhD candidate, and author.

Like Justin and his family, we are all better together, striving for life beyond blood cancer. If you or a loved one need support, contact our Information Specialists at 800-955-4572 or visit our resources for survivors ❤️👉 https://bit.ly/3z6Mc0X

“On January 30, 2019, the doctor confirmed she had B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). My world shattered, and my mind went numb. Her treatment plan spanned two years, with adjustments at each stage based on results. Jelien completed treatment in March 2021 and continues her follow-ups, currently doing well.

LLS has been invaluable, providing informative support throughout. Their assistance during the challenges of COVID-19 was particularly appreciated. We are forever grateful for LLS.” - Jelien’s mom

Donate in recognition of , and Subaru of America, Inc. will match your contribution, doubling its impact for 🩸 patients like Jelien and their families 👉 https://bit.ly/3z30Zd6

Great news from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Advocacy! 🎉 The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (AKACA) is taking a major step forward! Thank you all for supporting kids with cancer. Learn more about this bill, important milestone, & what's next 👉 https://msg.lls.org/3VoVA7L

Lorena and her wife, Yicenica, vowed "in sickness and in health," and they meant it—especially when faced with a lymphoma diagnosis just 3 months into marital bliss.

“In May of 2022, we got married on a beach in Mexico. I remember expressing my happiness to my wife, and my eyes filling with tears of gratitude and joy.

Just 3 months after getting married, I had surgery to remove a lymph node that, to our surprise, turned out to be stage 2 non-Hodgkin follicular lymphoma. We spent our entire first year and a half of marriage battling [blood] cancer. I could not have gotten through this without the support of my family and my amazing wife, who was with me at every single doctor's appointment. She is my rock!

She made sure I got the support I needed. We joined LLS Light The Night which made us both feel supported by our community and others with similar battles. Not a community I ever thought I would be part of, but a community I definitely needed!

I am now 6 months into remission and working to regain normalcy in our lives.”

and share June; We are proud to share stories of all survivors. 🌈 We are better together. For support, reach out today 👉 https://bit.ly/4aVbb4A

In three words, what does being a blood cancer survivor mean to you?

Straight from the hearts of pediatric blood cancer patients! ❤️ You can make a difference on our first Dare to Dream Day for kids affected by . Kids deserve better. Your donation today paves the way for brighter tomorrows and will be tripled! ☀️👉 https://bit.ly/3Vubkr1

“On April 6, 2021, we heard, ‘We think it's leukemia.’ As I watched my boy jumping on the neighbor's bounce house, my mind went to one simple question, ‘Why him?’ Up until that point, our then three-year-old, Henry, had been the happiest and healthiest toddler.

Henry would spend the next 27 days inpatient receiving the necessary but extremely toxic chemotherapy drugs to stop B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), a type of blood cancer, in its tracks; completely wiping it and the rest of Henry's immune system clean from his small fragile body.

Henry would embark on what proved to be the longest 2.5 years of our lives. Induction turned into frontline treatment which consisted of Henry and our family enduring the grueling schedule of weekly hospital visits for multiple chemo infusions, (too-many-to-count) chemo injections to his spinal cord via lumbar punctures, countless blood transfusions, daily chemo pills, and more.

When deciding whether to participate in the clinical trial, Henry’s oncologist stated plainly and effectively, ‘Henry’s treatment plan will either help Henry or help Henry and help other kids,’ that’s when we knew that participation in the clinical trial was a no-brainer. Though the ideal end goal is a cure, if we can’t get that, then we can at least get more advanced, well-researched, less toxic, and invasive treatment options available for pediatric cancer patients.

In June 2023, Henry rang the bell loudly and proudly, signifying the end of his treatment.”

Join our FIRST-EVER Dare to Dream Day to support children with and their families directly. Your contribution funds incredible programs that help kids like Henry 👉 https://bit.ly/3VdAQ2x

KIDS DESERVE BETTER. 📣 Pass this event on to someone who wants to help kids with ! ❤️

Tomorrow, on our inaugural Dare to Dream Day, let's unite to raise awareness and funds for safer, less toxic, more effective treatment for pediatric blood cancer patients. With your generosity, we can make better treatment and care a reality. Thanks to a match, your donations will be TRIPLED! Ready to take action today? Give now 👉 https://bit.ly/3VcVi3u

Is “no evidence of the disease” the perfect wedding gift? Yes. Yes, it is.

“The pathology results were in. I was officially diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

In the next few weeks, I completed a multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, met with a fertility specialist, and received my treatment plan from my oncologist. I began the first of my six rounds of chemotherapy. As treatment progressed, I experienced many of the typical side effects— fatigue, hair loss, nausea, appetite/taste changes, change in nail color, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and 'chemo brain.'

Soon after starting treatment, I began looking for lymphoma-specific resources, and Google led me to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I immediately read everything related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and was happily surprised to find a dedicated section on my subtype of lymphoma. I also applied for and was awarded the Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward Patient Travel Assistance stipend.

When I finished treatment in May, I couldn’t have been happier. Most of all, I was eager to continue planning my wedding.

I had another PET scan. This time it showed no evidence of disease (NED); it was the perfect gift going into my wedding weekend. I was able to share the news with family and friends at the reception, many of whom had traveled miles to be there and experience their surprise and joy in person.

Now on the recovery side of cancer care and in remission, I am passionate about advocating for and spreading blood cancer awareness. I’m also excited to participate in my first LLS Light The Night. I hope by sharing my story, others experiencing the same things will feel hopeful and less alone.” ✨

Celebrate hope and possibility, just like Brandi’s big day! It’s —join us in honoring love, life, and survivorship. We are better together. Need extra support? Reach out today 👉 https://bit.ly/4bGNPko

Join us in welcoming two Visionaries of the Year candidates for the 2024 South Texas Visionaries of the Year Campaign 🎉

Andro Herrera-Mendoza, SVP Chief Growth Officer of Ambulatory and Rehabilitation Services with PAM Health and Matt Seamans with the United States Postal Service.

Working in the healthcare industry, Andro knows the need to support our doctors, researchers and patients is vital. He is passionate about bringing in new connections and reaching more individuals to share about LLS's programs and services.

Matt's connection with LLS is personal. As a 2X Acute Myeloid Leukemia survivor, he wants to give back to research that has given him the opportunity to beat cancer twice. Matt and his family are ready to share their journey and help other families as they go through their battle against blood cancer.

These two individuals are going to do big things for LLS this year!

Share your well wishes + advice for these two Visionaries below ⬇

Welcome Brianna, Chloe, Ciara, and Kayla to our 2024 STX Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign! 🥳

Thank you to our San Antonio Top Teams for putting forth an amazing effort to be a light in the darkness of cancer! We can’t not thank everyone enough for an amazing 2023 Light The Night Season!

You can still make an impact, donate to our mission. Link in bio!

Thank you to our Austin Top Teams for putting forth an amazing effort to be a light in the darkness of cancer! We can’t not thank everyone enough for an amazing 2023 Light The Night Season!

You can still make an impact, donate to our mission https://donate.lls.org/ltn/donate

And with that, the 2023 Light The Night Season comes to an end! Our Austin and San Antonio Honored Heroes, Jarvis, Anders and Mark would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to all our fundraising teams and sponsors! We are so thankful for everyone that is helping us bring light to the darkness of cancer! 🩸

Join us in welcoming two Visionaries of the Year candidates for the 2024 South Texas Visionaries of the Year Campaign 🎉

Benjamin Arreguin, Territory Account Manager at Cardinal Health and Jason Massiatte, Regional Vice President at Ward North American. These two individuals are passionate about giving back to the community and ready to raise important research dollars to support patients + their families.

Share your well wishes + advice for these two Visionaries below ⬇

We are proud to share that together, we raised $1.45 million to bring light to the darkness of blood cancer! ✨Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's events, fundraised, donated, volunteered, and more! Your contributions support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's efforts to .

You can still make an impact, donate to our mission 👉 https://donate.lls.org/ltn/donate

LLS Light The Night

We are 53 Days away from kicking off our 2024 South Texas Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign and we could not be more excited to welcome these new teams who have said "yes" to fundraising for the LLS Mission!Please welcome Lauren Relic & Adyson Casias from O'Connor HS, Beau Taber & Oliver Duffin From Alamo Heights HS, Francesca Bustamante from Smithson Valley HS, and Phillip Toohill, from Churchill HS. Woohoo! We can't wait to cheer you on!

We welcome our legacy team from McAllen High School to our 2024 Candidate Class! 🌟🎉
Kicking Out Cancer won our RGV campaign last year. These three determined leaders are eager to continue the tradition while they make a huge impact and honor their dear friend and classmate that was diagnosed with Leukemia this year. 🤍🩸

We are excited to announce our first Visionaries of the Year candidate for the 2024 South Texas Visionaries of the Year Campaign 🎉

Mason Colvin, Owner of MCC Insurance Agency is ready to be part of the fight against blood cancer. He is driven and passionate about making a difference in his community.

Please join us in welcoming Mason to this campaign and share any well wishes below ⬇

We are grateful for our incredible LLS Light The Night sponsors! A big thank you to:

⭐ Texas Oncology ⭐ Austin Subaru ⭐ First Citizens Bank ⭐ St. David's HealthCare ⭐ Mercury Financial ⭐ Schneider Electric ⭐ Cox Consulting Network ⭐ BSA LifeStructures ⭐ SailPoint ⭐ Polkinghorn Group Architects, Inc.

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

We are grateful for our incredible Executive Challengers! A big thank you to:

⭐Andy Cox ⭐Ben Stratmann ⭐Chris Mitchell ⭐Claudia Barlow ⭐ David Crow ⭐ Delena Spencer ⭐Emily Cornell ⭐Jake Snyder ⭐Mike McConnell ⭐Sara Smith ⭐Tamara Fields ⭐Ted Davison ⭐Thomas Bockholt ⭐Will Jenkins ⭐Zach Calogero

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.