jude's leukemia story
in May of 2024, i was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. i've been in treatment for the disease ever since. it's been what the blogs call "a journey." highlights include three hospitalizations (so far), three bone marrow biopsies (so far), a six-hour nosebleed, 24-hour chemo infusions, too many transfusions to count, and 5 week delays in my chemo cycle.
i write about this in more detail in my chemozines series, if you're interested.
- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a great source of information and support, including financial grants.
- Elephants and Tea is a magazine by and for young adult cancer patients and survivors.
- Young Adult Survivors United is an organization dedicated to providing emotional, social, and financial support for young adult cancer survivors and their caregivers.
- National LGBT Cancer Project supports and advocates for LGBTQ cancer patients and survivors.
- Cactus Cancer Society provides online wellness and support programs for young adult cancer patients.
- Adolescent and Young Adult Program (AYA) is a program at the James Cancer Hospital (aka jude's summer palace.) this program means so much to me, and its resources have been incredible.
all of the organizations above are absolutely worth supporting if you have the capacity and interest.
- donating to my gofundme is really helpful, because cancer is expensive, and my access to health insurance is tenuous at best because it's tied to the job i'm currently too sick to do.
- my WeGotThis registry also has items that are useful and/or comforting to me as i go through treatment.
- my Bookshop wishlist has a whole bunch of books on it, because reading is one of the few i'm consistently able to enjoy no matter how sick i am.
don't feel obligated to do any of this, though! kind words and actionable threats against my misbehaving bone marrow are more than enough.