Mother Battles Leukemia While Cherishing Her Memories

NEW YORK — A mother’s poignant journey through acute myeloid leukemia started just hours after the birth of her daughter on May 25, 2024. What seemed like a normal day quickly turned into a nightmare when doctors discovered her blood count was alarmingly high, raising concerns of leukemia, a possibility she vehemently denied.

She was hospitalized at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital shortly after the birth, where tests confirmed her fears. With a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia and a rare mutation known as Inversion 3, she faced a harsh reality. “I had just turned thirty-four, I couldn’t believe it,” she recalled. “I was one of the healthiest people I knew up until that point.”

Her husband, George, a urology resident at the same hospital, sought reassurance from colleagues, but the news grew more dire. As the couple’s family came to visit their new baby, she had to be wheeled away for treatment, leaving her loved ones in shock.

As she began her fight against leukemia, undergoing chemotherapy followed by a required bone-marrow transplant, she struggled with the emotional toll of leaving her young son and newborn daughter. “I was gone for almost half of her first year of life,” she said, tears in her eyes.

The physical battles were accompanied by moments of strange humor that she clung to during difficult times. “I decided that everyone in the hospital had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, and I was their target,” she quipped, even when facing the daunting reality of chemotherapy.

Despite the grueling treatments, support from friends and family, including regular visits from her son, brought light to her dark days. She praised the nursing staff, calling them “the most competent and empathetic” individuals she had ever encountered.

After an exhausting five-week stay in the hospital, her health stabilized enough for her to receive treatment at home. However, complications arose, and she struggled with relapses. In January, she entered a clinical trial for CAR-T-cell therapy, which engineered her sister’s T-cells to battle the cancer cells within her.

While her progress fluctuated, she faced each treatment with determination and hope. “This was one battle I was not willing to lose,” she stated. “I will live for my children.”

As her fight continued, so too did her concerns about the evolving health-care landscape due to political shifts. She watched closely as her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services and worried about the future of health-related funding and research that could impact her treatment.

In the midst of every challenge, she focused on creating lasting memories with her children, often reminding herself of precious moments with them. “I want them to know their mother was more than just a sick person,” she said. “I want them to remember the love we shared and the laughter we had.”

Today, she continues her fight against leukemia, determined to fill her days with moments that matter, captivated by the memories of her life and the hope of tomorrow.