One of the most inspiring aspects of my LLS Woman of the Year (WOY) campaign is ‎meeting amazing people and learning new things about people I already know. Each week ‎‎(over the next ten weeks), I am going to showcase one of my new or “old” friends and share their ‎blood cancer story.‎

First up, my amazing friend (and Mt. St. Cure teammate), Dr. Trisha Wong. Trisha and I ‎met almost 4 years ago at the Goddard School in Salmon Creek. Her daughter Madie is two-‎weeks younger than my son, Colin. We instantly hit it off and can often be found commiserating ‎about the “joys” of being a working mother of two. ‎

While she’s not chasing her daughters, Trisha is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at ‎Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Trisha recently shared a story about her patient from ‎fellowship, Austin. Austin was diagnosed with leukemia and after several rounds of chemo, he ‎received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Eventually, Austin’s HSCT failed and ‎sadly, he did not survive. Trisha had such an impact on Austin’s family that, when Madie was ‎born (the five-year anniversary of Austin’s death), Austin’s mom gave a blanket to Trisha for Madie ‎‎(now, its Madie’s beloved “baba”). The blanket was made by Austin’s blind grandmother. ‎

Trisha and so many other doctors and nurses help families cope with diseases like ‎leukemia. They are a light spot in a dark world for families that are fighting blood cancer.‎

‎60,140 patients in the US were diagnosed with some form of leukemia or lymphoma in ‎‎2016 (SEER data). And, if you're counting, an estimated 24,400 patients died from leukemia or ‎lymphoma last year. In kids, leukemia and lymphoma comprise the most common cancer by a ‎landslide. With missed work, extra expenses to pay for gas, etc., families often rely on help from ‎private organizations like LLS to help cover costs of drugs, housing and other basic needs.‎

With federal funding cuts, NIH-funded research has been on the decline for years now ‎but research hasn't slowed down. Oh no it hasn't(!) - all thanks to organizations like LLS that have ‎picked up the slack in labs around the country, including at OHSU and Doernbecher. If you can ‎donate (even $5), please do by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/mt-st-cure. Your donation will do ‎great things!‎

Here’s a picture of Trisha and her two daughters, Madie and Gracie, donating toys for the ‎children who reside at Doernbecher (notably, the toys were received in lieu of gifts for Madie ‎and Gracie’s birthdays). Trisha, you are amazing!‎