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Honored Patient
Honored Skippers
Participants in The Leukemia Cup fundraise in honor of local patients whose bravery in fighting blood cancer provides inspiration and motivation.
Meet the 2011 Honored Skippers for the National Capital Area Leukemia Cup!
Tyler DeMille
On March 1st 2007 Tyler was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia called Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML). His only chance at survival would be to receive a Bone Marrow Transplant. On July 2, 2007, just one day before his first birthday, Tyler received his life saving transplant thanks to an unrelated donor named Marissa. Today, Tyler is a happy and healthy almost 5 year old, remains 100% "Marissa" cells and is cancer free!!! He is growing up fast, has already lost two teeth and finally got the chance to become a Big Brother!! He is so kind to his little sister Meadow and is a great helper to Mom and Dad! He loves drawing and art, music, playing the drums and building train tracks. The Regatta is one of Tyler's favorite LLS events and he is very much looking forward to his 4th year as an Honored Skipper! Nothing beats spending an afternoon with friends watching all of the beautifully colored sails on the water!
Shannon Kelso
Shannon was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in September of 2010, checking into the hospital for her first round of chemotherapy on her 29th birthday. Her diagnosis followed several months of life-threatening medical complications and hospitalizations, caused by the rare T-cell cancer which is difficult to diagnose. She completed six rounds of CHOP therapy at Georgetown University Hospital Center from September to January 2011. Through Georgetown, she is also participating in a long-range study on patients with T-cell lymphomas, about which little is known. During treatment, she completed work on her Master's of Public Policy from George Mason University, which had been interrupted by her illness. In February of 2011, she returned to work at the Department of Homeland Security and in March was confirmed to be in remission. Shannon lives in Arlington with her husband and they look forward to a summer spent outdoors rebuilding her health.
Hannah McNeal
On October 27, 2005 four-year-old Hannah McNeal was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Before that Hannah had only been to the doctor's office for check-ups, so her diagnosis and prompt admission to the hospital left her family in a whirlwind. The next day, just one day after Hannah started treatment, her white blood cell count had dropped from 300,000 to 79,000 (normal range is 4,000-11,000); her body was responding to the chemotherapy. Hannah continued to show encouraging results, and after ten days in the hospital she was allowed to return home. By the end of November, 2005, Hannah and her doctors had pushed her cancer into remission. However, for the next two years Hannah continued treatment to ensure her cancer was gone for good. Even though there was not a week during those two years she would not go to the oncologist's office/hospital at least once, Hannah never complained, in fact, she looked forward to seeing the nurses and the "play lady" that kept her entertained with crafts, movies and games during her treatments. Hannah completed her treatment in December of 2007 and will continue to go to the doctor's office for monthly blood tests to make sure she stays in remission. This resilient child is determined to live a long, healthy life, and loves arts and crafts, golf, ice-skating, roller-coasters, swimming, the beach, reading, math and playing with her brothers and friends.
Andrew Howson
2011 marks a big year for Andrew. In May, he celebrated his 10th birthday and in November of this year he will mark the 10 year anniversary of being in remission. Andrew was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia called juvenile chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (JCMML) when he was just 8 weeks old. After 5 rounds of chemotherapy, countless transfusions and numerous other procedures, Andrew received a bone marrow transplant on Nov. 28, 2001 at 7 months old. This year, Andrew was at the finish line on May 1st as his mom completed an Olympic distance triathlon in his honor through the Leukemia Society?s Team in Training Program (an event for which they raised close to $13,000 for the LLS) and he is now looking forward to cheering on his father and Uncle Peter as they race for the prize in the Leukemia Cup Regatta!! Andrew and his family are so grateful for everything the LLS did for them and continues to do for patients and their families. Good luck to everyone on race day and here?s hoping for some good winds!!
If you know an inspiring individual who would make a great Honored Skipper for the 2011 Leukemia Cup Series please contact Kaitlin McTighe at 703-399-2930 or Kaitlin.McTighe@lls.org.
