For the past nine years as a physician assistant, I have had the privilege of taking care of acute leukemia, high-risk lymphoma and bone marrow transplant patients at the Intermountain Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. Throughout my years at this job, I have seen the struggles patients and their families face once they’ve been told “you have cancer.” I've enjoyed being an important part of our patients’ medical team, helping them heal physically and emotionally, but I wanted to do more.
I got involved with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society a few years ago after seeing how this organization helps our patients on a daily basis. LLS research helps lead to new medications and treatments, and many patients are able to get financial assistance to help with co-pays for the medicines they absolutely need. They also benefit from various patient and caregiver education and assistance programs.
Unfortunately, thus far, there is still no cure for blood cancers. I will continue to volunteer with this organization with passion until the day we have a cure and we are no longer losing patients from these horrible diseases.