Jim and Leslie Donigan have been married for almost 50 years. Currently retired with three adult children, they have both faced a cancer diagnosis and are in remission today.
In October of 2003, Leslie was diagnosed with GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors), a stomach cancer, and was told it was terminal. But then her doctor tried a medication intended for blood cancer—and it worked. The treatment that saved her life resulted directly from blood cancer research funded by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Then, in May 2016, Jim faced a mantle cell lymphoma diagnosis. Once again, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds dedicated to research were critical in advancing this therapy. Between two cancer diagnoses, the family faced serious financial hardships. Jim relied on Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s co-pay assistance program to help pay for his treatment.
Today, both Leslie and Jim are doing well. “There is hope. Never give up,” says Jim. They are thankful for the investment in blood cancer research, which saved both their lives.
