The light and warmth The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society generates delivers hope in a time of despair, a community in place of loneliness and life-saving research and support for cancer patients and their families. Together, we are taking steps to end cancer. Here's my story: 

There’s no denying hearing the words “You Have Cancer” can be one of the darkest, scariest and most deflating group of words anyone can ever hear. I was in complete shock. I went to the emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack only to be told by an ER doctor that I had some form of cancer and the next steps were to determine where the “activity” was in my body.

It was on July 10, 2019 that I learned I had Stage 4 Non-hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Even though I received the devasting news of NHL, somehow I had the ability to see the silver lining…which was…the NHL that I had was a highly aggressive cancer, but more importantly it was highly treatable.

Thanks in large part to the phenomenal team of physicians that I had through Texas Oncology in Dallas and most of all because I decided that I was going to fight, I was not going to let this cancer diagnosis define me or defeat me. But rather, I was going to be in the driver’s seat and take control of this situation. 

During my first round of chemotherapy, one of my good friends and former colleagues, Allyson Fezler, encouraged me to get involved and to share my story with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. While exploring the LLS website, I remembered the organization held a huge walk each year. I quickly looked to see when the walk was taking place in Dallas. Next thing you know from my hospital bed, I had formed a team called “Jason’s Journey” for the Light the Night Walk here in my own backyard.

I have now been cancer free for a year and half and thank God every day for the gift of life. To date, I have raised over $30,000 for LSS and have recently been named as a National Ambassador for Light the Night. With your help, we can continue to bring light to the darkness and get closer to the day when we have found a cure for all blood cancers.