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Patient Story |
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Meaghan Webb New Orleans, LA United States female Living with Hodgkin Lymphoma for 11 years, 1 month Age: 34 So funny how my nickname is "Monkey" since 2004 is the Chinese "Year of the Monkey" and it also the 5 year remission milestone for me... In June of 1999 I was 23 and a junior in college. I was a runner and gym rat as well as a vegetarian. I was someone people would never think might get cancer. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. After going through a long, hot, Louisiana summer of chemo, I thought the treatment would be through by my birthday--the end of October. That was not so. Two days after my birthday, I found out that my CT scans revealed my first-line therapy had not been effective and I would need to have a bone marrow transplant. My parents and I traveled to MD Anderson in Houston, and after a long day of tears and hugs, my treatment plan was mapped out. In comparison to other treatments at MDACC, mine seemed relatively fast and simple since my bone marrow aspiration revealed that I could "donate" to myself in an autologous stem cell transplant. The entire process took about five months and luckily, I made it through with only two infections requiring hospitalization. By the end of February all I wanted to do was get my blood counts high enough to return home for my younger sister's (and college roommate) 21st birthday. Incredibly enough, I was released from care the day before her special day, and arrived home just in time to bring her a White Russian daiquiri to celebrate. The time in Houston was the most difficult thing I've ever been through, but I became someone I never knew I could be. I read a lot. Wrote even more. I did as many cancer patients do- decided how I would live life if I made it through. Any kind of medical disaster is devastating for the patient, but I think the family may suffer more. I celebrate my mother as a hero for her strength as my primary caretaker and for making me watch "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" EVERY day to keep me laughing. I celebrate the strength of my aunts who were there to help my mother and to help comfort me in the MDACC emergency room. My father was the "rock" everyone could depend on. And my two sisters are to be honored for helping me stay in touch with the "real world"--LSU sports updates, Starbucks coffee, and bringing me a regular supply of my usual health and fitness magazines. It's been five years since my initial diagnosis. My actual remission date is December 23rd (from salvage chemo). My "new birthday" is in mid-February. I am doing fabulous! I graduated from LSU. Through a series of stepping stones, I have reached one of my career goals of selling primary care pharmaceuticals for Novartis. My next goal is to get involved with their Oncology division. I am also back to running. In the last two years, I have completed 4 half-marathons thanks to the motivation and assistance from the love of my life, Steve. Reflecting back, my nickname, "Monkey", came from my aunt during my time at MD Anderson--one of the worst periods of my life. Funny how this is the Chinese Year of the Monkey, and so far, it has been the best I know of! My final note is to mention that I will be running half-marathons and fund raising for TNT this year to celebrate my life, but to also run in memory of Nicole Hayes. Nicole was another LSU Business major who was diagnosed with the same disease, and had to have a BMT. I never met her, but we talked a few times over email to discuss the cancers, the stem cell process, and to reassure each other. She stopped writing, and I found out during my younger sister's graduation, Nicole did not live to receive her diploma. I think of her so often, and this year, I will be honoring her in my racing. |
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