Last night I was invited to attend the Leukemia and Lymphoma's fundraiser Putting for the Cause at the Crown Plaza Hotel in White Plains, NY. I was the honored speaker for the evening. My speech was about Jacquie and my experience with the society's team in training program. Below is a copy of the speech I gave last night to a banquet room full of people fighting blood cancers by coming together raising tons of money for research and having a good time. I hope that it can inspire you just like I know it inspired them. Jacquie I love you.
My Journey with the leukemia and lymphoma society started this past September when I was looking for away to give back to my friend Jacquie Hirsch who has given me so much. At this time Jacquie was in critical condition at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY.
After requesting information about their team in training program on the internet, I was contacted the next day by the society’s wonderful staff. They told me that they had an informational meeting a week later at my school district in Central Valley, NY. I thought this was fate, because it was so convenient for me to attend and Jacquie was so sick.
A few days later on September 6th, 2008, almost 5 months ago, my dear friend from college passed away from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, also commonly referred to as A.L.L. Jacquie was only 23 years old when she passed away. Losing her has been the most difficult thing to happen to me in my life thus far.
On September 13th, one week after she passed away, my boyfriend and I signed up for the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 11th, 2009. I was a competitive runner back in high school and since then ran casually and always wanted to run a marathon, but the thought of running on3 always intimidated me. Jacquie was my inspiration and when I thought of how brave and strong she was I knew that I could do anything. I think I should start off by telling you Jacquie’s story.
On September 28th 2007, my friend Jacquie Hirsch woke up to prepare for another day of student teaching in Rochester, NY, but felt sick, and found her vision was blurry. Thinking this may be attributed to her contact lenses; she visited the college health center and was then referred to an eye specialist. Taking careful note of her vision, he knew something was wrong, very wrong. After arriving at the hospital for blood work, her white blood cells had reached a level 20x higher than normal. This deviation in her blood stream was causing clotting behind her retina and the subsequent blurred vision. Her mother, driving to the hospital from Buffalo arrived in time for the news. Such a rapid cell increase only meant one thing, cancer. Jacquie was immediately rushed home and admitted directly to Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The family arrived with Jacquie at 2:30am and treatment had to begin immediately.
She began receiving chemo for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, (ALL) and was put on an immediate national search to find a match for her bone marrow transplant. Fundraising efforts and a benefit with free bone marrow testing were set up in order to help. A donor was located and Jacquie was admitted into Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan NYC on Monday February 11th. There, Jacquie continued the fight of her life and received a genetic altering bone marrow & stem cell transplant. 11 days short of her anticipated discharge date, we received some very devastating news, her cancer had returned. She was immediately flown back to buffalo and had roughly 2 days with family and friends before she was admitted back into Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Again, she began a series of chemotherapy (this time much more intense and potentially dangerous to her body) in hopes of her attaining remission. Once there, they started to prepare for a second bone marrow transplant. Three months later after the second transplant had taken places, something went wrong and Jacquie’s organs started to fail and she was moved to the ICU where she passed away weeks later.
Now let me tell you about Jacquie Hirsch my friend. Jacquie is a caring, bright and thoughtful person whose presence and smile can brighten even the darkest day. She is also a miracle worker when it comes to children. Her natural abilities and her patient disposition allow her to reach children on a level that no one else can. Whether in the gym or in the classroom, Jacquie’s true calling in life was to educate and better the lives of children. Even while undergoing chemotherapy at Roswell Park, she made everyone aware she would be much happier if put on the pediatric floor. Once her room was moved, she wasted no time meeting the children and making friends. Helping to make snow-cones and coloring pictures was a way for both her and the children find some level of comfort. Her laugh and her smiles continued every day as did her strong will to fight. Along with her IV and pump, she walked miles around the 6th floor with a level of determination rarely seen in someone so young. Jacquie always made tremendous progress with her treatments and despite all of the setbacks she faced. She stayed strong and positive.
As Jacquie’s brother said so well Jacquie was never able to have her own class to teach, but she taught us all so much- to live life to the fullest- full of happiness, love and strength.
Jacquie is the kind of person who always brought out the best in people. She is a kind, open minded, strong, sweet, and loveable person. She is what got me through training and the marathon I ran almost 3 weeks ago. It was truly amazing to see thousands of people running in memory, honor or as survivors with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I continually heard coaches, mentors and others cheering “Go Team!” It is difficult for me to explain how that felt. I have never felt so proud of myself. It wasn’t just that I finished 26.2 miles, it was who and what I was finishing it for. Every time I ran past someone whose jersey said in memory of tears began to well up in my eyes, but for one of those people there were many more who said in honor of a patient or an actual survivor was running which made me smile.
Throughout training the past 5 months and since Jacquie was diagnosed I was amazed to meet so many people who’s lives had some way or another been affected by blood cancers. It is difficult to imagine how many people are affected by these awful diseases, but if we look at the glass half full it is equally amazing to think of what the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, with your generosity, can do for people just like them.
I am here right now because Jacquie has continued to inspire me. She brings people together like all of us here tonight to Believe that one day we will wipe out blood cancers. I encourage all of you to visit her website to learn more about her brave story and foundation and JacquieforALL.com. There you will see family and friends who have actively participated in programs offered by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society like light the night and team and training, to give back to an organization that supports patients and their loved ones, like Jacquie.
Everybody, regardless of age, race or religion has the ability to help stop cancers that turn peoples lives upside down. In some way or another, you can help save the lives of patients who desperately need to break free from these deadly diseases and be able to continue on living their lives.
On behalf of Jacquie, her family, other blood cancer patients and their families and friends I thank all of you for taking part to fight against cancer by increasing awareness about this deadly disease and bone marrow transplants.
I also thank you for your generosity and support that you have shown the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through your participation this evening by Putting for the cause. I pray and believe that we will soon see the end of blood cancers as we know it. We have to keep fighting until we do.
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