In 2023, our team #RachelStrong, achieved an extraordinary milestone by raising over $130,000 for the blood cancer community. But that’s not all – we’ve also made an incredible impact, surpassing the $630,000 mark over the past 6 years! We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our family, friends, and colleagues who have made this remarkable journey possible.
Our long story, short…
Rachel my daughter was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in November 2017 at the age of 7.
After relapsing, our family wanted to do more to help the blood cancer community, fund research and raise awareness around pediatric AML. It was important to us that Rachel connected with the charity and felt part of a community, knowing that she wasn’t alone. That’s when we decided to register a team, #RachelStrong, for Light the Night Vancouver and support the LLSC. The light is such a powerful symbol when you are going through such a dark time.
On October 3, 2018, at 2:45pm, Rachel received her bone marrow transplant from little sister Hayley. That day Rachel was given a 4% chance of surviving the following 24 hours, a 25% chance of surviving the week and a 50% chance of surviving more than 2 years post-transplant. With each passing year her chances of survival would increase. You can see the uncertainty in Rachel’s face as she gives a on that fateful morning. Over the next few days, her condition would worsen but slowly, the new stem cells worked their magic as her immune system began its recovery.
Five years later Rachel continues to beat the odds. She is thriving in a way that no one could imagine. Statistically the chances of Rachel relapsing with pAML are now at the lowest they will ever be, in her lifetime. This is the closest she will ever come to being cured. Rachel is a true SURVIVOR! We wouldn’t be in this place of recovery if it wasn’t for our friends, family and the LLSC.
Thank you for joining us in this journey and helping us make a difference for other families like ours!
