Post by Shawn Madden, R.N. Shawn is a registered nurse at Rex Hemotology Oncology Associates at the Rex Cancer Center in Raleigh. She has been with Rex since Dec 1, 2001.
This is Leah Gray Nash. She is my niece. She is an 8 year old little girl. Like most 8 year olds, purple is her favorite color, Justin Bieber is her favorite singer and she is a big sister to 3 younger siblings. Unlike most 8 year olds however, Leah has had to battle Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on two separate occasions. After “conventional” chemotherapy failed for Leah, her family was forced to make the decision for Leah to have a bone marrow transplant. The survival rate for the bone marrow was a 50% chance.
During Leah’s 4 year cancer journey she was enrolled in many clinical trials. The research behind many of these clinical trials are funded by wonderful organizations like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Each year across the U.S., the LLS presents the Light The Night® Walk, a community event that raises funds for life-saving blood cancer research. Rex Healthcare has many teams enrolled in the Light The Night Walk this year. The walk takes place on October 13 at 7 pm at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh — and we’d love it if you could join us.
Luckily for Leah her cancer is now gone. Thanks to organizations like LLS and events like the Light The Night, we can continue much needed research in the area of Leukemia and other blood cancers. There is no gift greater than life; Leah Nash learned that at a much too early age. If you would like to make a contribution to a Rex Light The Night team—no amount is too small—visit lightthenight.org and click donate.
