Megan Milligan
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Oct. 2018
Meghan Milligan has always been passionate about sports and athletics. A dedicated runner since high school, she's now 35 and actively competes in endurance events. She has completed seven marathons, numerous sprint triathlons, a half Ironman, and is currently training for her first full Ironman in Maryland later this year.What makes Meghan's story extraordinary is that she has trained for and competed in these grueling events while undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma-not once, but three times over the past seven years. Through it all, she has remained determined, upbeat and inspiring, always wearing her signature smile.
In 2018, Meghan began experiencing shoulder and neck pain, which she initially attributed to her intense training. When a lump appeared, she went to the emergency department and heard the words no one wants to hear: "This appears to be lymphoma."
She began treatment with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center chairman Dr. Stanley Marks, undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Within a year, she was in remission.
But in 2020, the cancer returned.
Abby Hudak
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, July 2022
In July of 2022, Abby Hudak was a 31-year-old Pittsburgh native getting ready to move to the west coast to start a new path for her future. Unfortunately, her life quickly and dramatically changed.
After several episodes of vision black outs, Abby went to a local emergency department and was immediately flown to UPMC Shadyside where she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a rare cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Abby was further diagnosed with a specific type of ALL, characterized by a genetic mutation. Decades earlier, her uncle was diagnosed with ALL when he was in his 30's and did not survive. Now, years later, Abby and others diagnosed with this blood cancer have options.
Working closely with UPMC Hillman medical oncologist, Dr. Annie Im, Abby painstakingly researched everything about ALL. Based on her young age, Dr. Im suggested fertility preservation, something Abby may not have considered at the time, but is recommended for younger cancer patients.
John Henson
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Oct. 2019
John Henson lives on the edge of extreme danger. As an 18-year veteran of the Pittsburgh City Police force, he has spent 13 years as a narcotics detective and member of the exclusive SWAT team. This tight group responds to violent crimes and gang activity. They position themselves high above large events scouring for potential mass killings and were first on the scene at the devastating Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in 2019.
None of that was as terrifying to John as hearing the words 'You Have Cancer' in February 2020.
John was diagnosed with Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a fast-growing blood cancer and the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, changed his diet, and continued working out and living healthier.
Less than a year later the cancer returned, and he was sent to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to be treated by blood cancer expert, hematologist and oncologist, Dr. Kathleen Dorritie.
Carrie Richards
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Oct. 2019
Carrie Richards spends her days working alongside Dr. Stan Marks at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancer.
As a collaborative practice nurse, she is often the one who spends the most time talking to patients and guiding them through scheduling tests, learning results, getting answers to questions about symptoms and even insurance. She is a total resource for patients. However, in October 2019, her knowledge of blood cancer led to a self-diagnosis.
Carrie felt a lump at the base of her neck and a week later noticed additional changes in her neck. In a panic she called the one expert she could rely on and that was her boss, Dr. Stan Marks.
At only 36 years old and a mother of two small children, Carrie was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She underwent six months of chemotherapy but did not miss a beat at home or at work. Carrie was adamant that she be the mother her young girls needed. Her husband, Ross, her parents, in-laws and many friends made sure Carrie was supported in every way so that she could have time to recover and be with her girls. She sought to maintain as much normalcy for her daughters by taking them to school every day, being present at bath and story time and being their mom.
Cathy Doyle
Acute Myeloid Leukemia, 2016
First patient in UPMC Hillman-developed clinical trial
On any given day, you will find Cathy Doyle happily playing with and caring for her four grandchildren. Her entire family, which includes her two children, their spouses, her husband, and her nine brothers and sisters are extremely close, and most live nearby right in the Pittsburgh region.
That family rallied around Cathy when four years ago, she was fighting for her life following a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a rare type of blood cancer that forms in the bone marrow and rapidly progresses.
Unfortunately, Cathy was no stranger to cancer - she had already overcome ovarian cancer a few years earlier. With this diagnosis, her Hillman oncologist/hematologist, Dr. Annie Im, recommended she undergo an allogeneic stem team cell transplant, which requires a stem cell donor who is a close genetic match.
Patients sometimes struggle to find donors, but since Cathy came from a large family, she had choices. Every single one of her family members volunteered to be tested and the two brothers were 100% matches. It was her younger brother, Michael Ragan, who was a full match and became her donor. Ragan never hesitated. The transplant was not easy, but it worked.
Cathy spent a month at UPMC Shadyside receiving high doses of chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells and another month following a stem cell transplant, which replaces the destroyed stem cells in the bone marrow.
Harrison Brown
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, 2016
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant, 2017
Allogenic Stem Cell Transplant, 2018
On any given day, you will find Cathy Doyle happily playing with and caring for her four grandchildren. Her entire family, which includes her two children, their spouses, her husband, and her nine brothers and sisters are extremely close, and most live nearby right in the Pittsburgh region.
That family rallied around Cathy when four years ago, she was fighting for her life following a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a rare type of blood cancer that forms in the bone marrow and rapidly progresses.
Unfortunately, Cathy was no stranger to cancer - she had already overcome ovarian cancer a few years earlier. With this diagnosis, her Hillman oncologist/hematologist, Dr. Annie Im, recommended she undergo an allogeneic stem team cell transplant, which requires a stem cell donor who is a close genetic match.
Patients sometimes struggle to find donors, but since Cathy came from a large family, she had choices. Every single one of her family members volunteered to be tested and the two brothers were 100% matches. It was her younger brother, Michael Ragan, who was a full match and became her donor. Ragan never hesitated. The transplant was not easy, but it worked.
Cathy spent a month at UPMC Shadyside receiving high doses of chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells and another month following a stem cell transplant, which replaces the destroyed stem cells in the bone marrow.
Jimmy Hernandez Valencia
B cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia, 2013
Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplant, 2016
Jimmy Hernandez was first diagnosed with cancer following his high school graduation in 2013. At the urging of his girlfriend and her mother, Jimmy went to the emergency room and was immediately taken by ambulance to UPMC Shadyside Hospital. For two months, Jimmy underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment, while his family kept a constant vigil at his bedside.
Jimmy's leukemia returned in 2016 almost three years to the date of his initial diagnosis. This time, a stem cell transplant was needed to replace his unhealthy cancerous cells with healthy, blood-forming cells from a donor. The best results involve someone with a 100 percent match. But recent medical advances have shown that a 50 percent match or a haploidentical donor can be used. That donor is usually a parent or in some cases a sibling.
Jimmy's dad, Mel Hernandez, was that match.
Darran Dunlap
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, 2016
Darran was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on November 7, 2016. She complained of leg pain a few days prior and after a night of uncontrolled leg pain, her family took her to the Emergency Department on November 6. She showed no other symptoms and was laughing, playing and acting like a normal five-year-old right up until her diagnosis. It was only a few hours later that her family received the initial diagnosis - Leukemia.
Darran was admitted to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh that day and scheduled for tests in the morning to confirm the diagnosis. Since then life has been such a whirlwind.
That was all about a year and a half ago (will be current in May 2018) and it has been a steady stream of treatments, pills, hospital stays and clinic visits. But all the while Darran's family has remained positive - having stayed the course they hope to have her leukemia eradicated in March of 2018 with a final chemo treatment.
James Connor
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, 2015
James Conner was honored at the 2016 Stanley M. Marks, MD Golf Classic and it was that year that the annual Courage Award was renamed in his honor. In 2015, as a junior running back for the University of Pittsburgh, James was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. This young man never stopped his drive to return to the football field. After many rounds of chemotherapy, he would show up for practice with a surgical mask protecting him from infection, and power through the drills leading his teammates to coin the phrase "Conner Strong." His return to the field was inspiring and his tenacity, strength and work ethic eventually caught the eyes of the Pittsburgh Steelers where James was successfully drafted and now in the running back position.