Honored Patients

Our Inspirations - 2012 Honored Heroes

Did you know that more than 1 million Americans are currently living with blood cancer? Our 2012 Light The Night Honored Heroes are just a few of the many patients supported by LLS in North Carolina. Your participation in the Light The Night Walks will help them and all blood cancer patients and survivors receive informational resources, support and financial aid in addition to giving them hope for a cure. Thank you!

Maddie Sargent
Wake Forest, NC * leukemia survivor

In 2008, Maddie was a very active six-year-old. She really enjoyed tumbling and competitive cheerleading. While leaving a competition, she started limping. She said her knee hurt a little but she was fine. That week we took her to the pediatrician where she was diagnosed with growing pains. A couple weeks later, a blood test revealed acute lymphoblastic leukemia and her battle with cancer began.

Medical news for Maddie quickly went from bad to worse. For some reason, remission was not attainable. We were finally told there was one more chemo she could try but it probably wouldn't work and it was time to call our family down for one last visit. Prayers were answered, the chemo worked, and Maddie was rushed to a bone marrow transplant. Given a 20% chance of success at that, she's here now and over four years cancer free!

She was able to rejoin her friends in her elementary school class at the current grade level. This was due to the determination of her teachers who came to our house before and after school to work with her. She was also able to go back to tumble and cheerleading due to her unstoppable spirit and some coaches who devoted a lot of time to seeing her succeed. Due to a whole lot of prayers and help from God through medical diligence, Maddie's life is now back to normal.

From the beginning, Maddie always had a positive outlook no matter the current situation. She looked at us the night of her diagnosis and said, "Don't cry. I'm going to kick leukemia right in the tail". That spirit kept her and all the rest of us going throughout her ordeal. Now, Maddie wants to lend her positive attitude toward raising awareness and financial support to help defeat blood cancers.

-Cara & Tim Sargent, parents of Maddie

Brandi Gull
Raleigh, NC * lymphoma survivor

In January of 2011, I went to my primary care doctor to have a swollen lymph node in my neck examined. That started a 3 month back and forth process to the doctor -- with more symptoms of night sweats and itchiness developing -- trying to figure out what was wrong. It ended on April 26, 2011 when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin?s Lymphoma. I was 25 years old and a newlywed. My husband and I had only been married for 6 months and had no idea that the first big event in our marriage would be fighting cancer.

After we got the news we went into the car, cried and then decided at that moment that we would take the advice of our wonderful oncologist, Dr. P.J. Singh, and "fight." And we fought! I had a 9 month treatment schedule -- 12 rounds of chemotherapy (6 cycles), once every other week, and then 20 daily radiation sessions. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions and physical symptoms. The only way we could deal with it was literally to take it one moment at a time. We woke up, looked at what we had to deal with that day only, and conquered it. We tried not to look at the past or what was to come in the future. We had an incredible support system of family, friends, nurses and doctors that surrounded us and helped us through everything. It would have been a much more difficult journey if we did not have all the support and we are incredibly grateful for everyone.

As of January 2012, I am cancer free! We are thankful for the blessings we have as we continue through this journey of being a survivor and making our way through the series of scans and checkups that are in our future. We now know the importance of the research, education and awareness that LLS advocates for. I am a direct result of the efforts of organizations like LLS. I can proudly say I am a survivor because of the prior research that has been done to treat my cancer. My chemo ended a week before the 2011 Light the Night walk in Raleigh. It was an incredible celebration full of family, old friends, new friends and hope! I am honored to be selected as one of the 2012 Honored Heroes to help spread the mission of LLS and be a part of the fight!

Jay Kirby
Greensboro, NC * leukemia survivor

I was thirteen and an 8th grader at St. Pius X in September 2009 when I stayed home from school one day for a mild fever. It was on that day that I noticed a strange rash on my ankle, and my mom took me to my doctor to have it checked out. My doctor recognized that something was wrong, and sent me for blood tests. Later that night, I received a call telling me that the blood tests had come back abnormal, and to choose which hospital to go to, and get there that night. So began my seven month long ordeal with cancer. Later that night, I received the diagnosis of AML - an aggressive form of leukemia.

The diagnosis would call for seven months of in-patient intensive chemotherapy treatments, meaning I would miss my entire 8th grade year of school. With so much stacked against me, I did have one asset. My brother, Henry, and my sister, Madeline, were both tested as potential bone marrow donors. My older sister, Madeline, miraculously tested to be a complete bone marrow match in the event that I needed to go to a bone marrow transplant.

Over the course of my seven month treatment, I spent every holiday that year, as well as my 14th birthday, in the hospital. I was able to overcome this great burden with the help of the hospital staff (whom I now see as very close friends), my family, and a blessing from God. I am now almost two years in remission, and am in the 10th grade at Bishop McGuiness High School. I enjoy being a member of the fencing team at Bishop and a boy scout In Troop 244 at St. Pius X. I was recently selected for the Volunteer program at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital, where my cancer was treated, and will be volunteering at the hospital this summer, hopefully helping patients there like myself. I am actively involved in a number of charity organizations for childhood cancer research, and am honored to have the opportunity to be the honored hero for Light the Night.