Honored Patients
Our Inspiration
Luke, 10 years old
Luke was diagnosed with prelymphoblastic lymphoma (B cell) in late July 2012. For 9 months he had to make weekly visits to the hospital to receive his chemotherapy treatments. In November, Luke began taking the oral form of his chemotherapy drug with allowed him to return home and back to school. Luke loves baseball and he participates in many extracurricular activities, including Boy Scouts. He is now in the maintenance cycle of his treatment, which he will continue until July 2014. If the treatment is successful, he will then be in remission.
Kelly K., survivor
In 2004, Kelly Kochert joined our Team in Training program as a personal challenge to herself after overcoming her diagnosis of Hodgkin?s Lymphoma in 2000. Kelly loves to travel and to run. Kelly participated in 3 events, including the Nike Women?s ½ Marathon before she relapsed in 2006. She spent six months in chemotherapy that included a week's stay in the hospital from a blood clot. One of the first things she did after completing chemo was start running again. She wanted to get back out there to run and share her story. Although Kelly had a relapse, she believes treatments are changing and getting better. Since going into remission again, Kelly has completed 3 more Team in Training events.
Phyllis, Survivor
Phyllis was diagnosed with Stage 4, Non- Hodgkins Mantle Cell Lymphoma, an extremely rare and often misdiagnosed form of lymphoma in 1998. At the time, there was not a sufficient treatment offered in Missouri so her children searched the internet and came across the treatment plan at The University of Nebraska. Her treatment program was long and arduous process that culminated in a stem cell transplant. Phyllis believes that she is still here today because of the very aggressive and newly discovered treatment at that time. Without the funding for research, Phyllis would have never been able to participate in Light The Night with her family and friends. Phyllis once said " I want to give others a chance to survive, like I was given a second chance to survive".
