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THREE LESSONS IN LOVE FROM A BLOOD CANCER SURVIVOR

By The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | March 06, 2024


By definition, love can be either a noun or a verb. For many people, it
represents everything we aspire to—falling in love, loving, feeling loved. It
can give us some of the best times of our lives or it can help buoy us during
the most difficult ones. 

Love is powerful, but it also needs to be flexible to survive. Few understand
that better than blood cancer patients—and their loved ones. 

For our Valentine’s Day and everyday hero, Dustin, love has been a constant
anchor. 

When Dustin was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a type of
acute myeloid leukemia (AML), his life ground to an abrupt halt. His fiancée,
KT, canceled their much anticipated wedding with a text that sums up their
offbeat humor: “So, I have some unfortunate news. We’re going to have to call
off the wedding this weekend. Dust got cold feet...and leukemia.”  

Not knowing what kind of future they’d have, they had to learn a new way of
looking at their life together…  




DUSTIN’S LESSONS IN LOVE, WITH BLOOD CANCER 


 


LESSON #1: ASK FOR AND ACCEPT HELP 

 

Every second counts when it comes to treatment, so Dustin and KT quickly learned
to ask for help in order to focus as much as possible on Dustin’s health. They
took leaves of absence from work and found someone to take care of their dog
indefinitely. Then they spent 33 incredibly intense days in the hospital
together, uncertain about Dustin’s future and their future together.  

As financial concerns grew, they found a couple resources from The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society (LLS) particularly helpful: free financial and insurance
information and advice from other patients and caregivers in LLS Community. “It
is difficult to know the difference between a tragedy and a blessing when a
trauma occurs,” Dustin stated. They found their bravery in the community around
them and each other.  


 


LESSON #2: LIVE A LITTLE, IF AND WHEN IT’S POSSIBLE 

 

During Dustin’s ten long months of treatment, he and KT took advantage of time
between his 80 infusions to make better memories—including trips, date nights,
movies, and romantic dinners. And 5 months through treatment, when there seemed
to be light at the end of the tunnel, they sent out “Save the date. Again”
cards, reminding their family and friends of their commitment: “Come what may'
means 'no matter what happens.” And with great hope, they got married.  


 


LESSON #3: DON’T OVER-DO IT WHEN YOU’RE IN REMISSION. IT’S A MARATHON, NOT A
SPRINT. 

 

After reaching remission, Dustin threw himself back into work, exercise, and fun
and then... hit a wall. He hadn’t realized that he was suffering mentally, that
he had PTSD from his lengthy treatment experience. Life after Treatment is
something LLS provides help with and something the couple had to learn about. He
and KT hit pause, regrouped, and laid down a plan to slowly reintroduce goals
and challenges... because remission didn’t mean Dustin was done with his
disease.  

Having children was one of those goals. Dustin and KT now have a three-year-old
and a five-year-old they are madly in love with.  


 


LIVING IN GRATITUDE

“Getting through a little bit of the ‘worse’ together means appreciating the
better even more.” - Dustin, blood cancer survivor

With profound appreciation, Dustin writes a letter to his wife every Valentine’s
Day. This year, he wanted to share his letter to KT publicly because he believes
LLS is a crucial part of their story. Not only does he want to build awareness
about blood cancers and LLS, but he also wants to reveal the formula that has
worked in his thriving marriage...  


LOVE = HOPE + BRAVERY 


 


THE LETTER

 

Dear KT, 

Once, our lives seemed uncertain. I was in the first days of chemo for leukemia,
scared and anxious. Maybe you felt the same way, but all I saw was courage. That
courage birthed the word “seemed,” because there was one thing that I became
certain of in that time: the reason why I love you. 

Fighting cancer requires the exact same skills as forging a marriage. You need
hope for a better future, and you need bravery to fight for that future, no
matter the obstacles. There were nights I couldn’t sleep. I imagined I may not
wake up. I looked at you on your bed made of chairs, and I knew I wasn’t alone.
We were for each other then, and so we are now. And for me, that sums up all
that truly matters. The details will sort themselves. 

We are for each other… Isn’t that an answer to being human? Because how you give
and receive love from the one who loves you best teaches you how to love the
whole world. 

Lastly, there’s this. Doctors and medicine may have saved my life, but you make
the life worth living. I hope. I’m brave. I love. It’s you. 

Dust  


SPREADING THE LOVE  

 

The help and support of family, friends, his medical team, and KT made all the
difference for Dustin. He’s grateful for them and even for his blood cancer
experience, as he feels cancer has given him the depth and dimension he needed
to be a good father and husband. His life is full, he says, and he’s full of
appreciation—especially for the thoughtful and kind woman who has stood by him
through it all. 

In the past, a diagnosis of APL was nearly always fatal. Now, because of
advances in diagnosis and treatment of this disease, APL is considered the most
curable form of adult leukemia.  

Without the blood cancer research LLS and other organizations have funded,
Dustin says he wouldn’t be here today. Nor would his children.  

So now, Dustin and KT are huge advocates of and fundraisers for LLS, raising
awareness of blood cancer by sharing his story, participating in Light The
Night, Visionaries of the Year, Team In Training, and heading up Dustin’s
charity, Row24. Together, he and KT have dedicated themselves to giving back.  



“It is a thank you to all those people we didn't know who gave money years ago
and helped save my life.” - Dustin, blood cancer survivor

 

Be a part of someone's story.


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RECENT BLOGS TO READ

BLOOD CANCER RESEARCH POISED FOR ANOTHER ‘BANNER YEAR’ IN 2024

January 17, 2024

THREE THINGS YOU GIVE WHEN YOU GIVE TO THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY

December 13, 2023

TOP MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR BLOOD CANCER PATIENTS & CAREGIVERS

October 6, 2023


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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against
blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin disease and
myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS
funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free
information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients
seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all monetary
donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by tax laws. Please
check with your financial advisor if you have more questions. Tax Identification
Number: 13-5644916