Unconditional love and the bond of family

There is nothing stronger than the unconditional love of family. It is unbreakable, determined, and fearless. It’s what has gotten June’s family through the past 2 years. June was a 25-year-old, biology graduate student when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoma. The massive tumor sat on her heart and continued all the way down to her diaphragm. Chemotherapy wasn’t an option because of a rare genetic mutation that would allow the lymphoma to recur. Her only chance was a bone marrow transplant. Thankfully her sister, Terri, was a perfect match not only for her first transplant but also for her second when the lymphoma recurred six months later. 

“We were so excited to learn she was a perfect match as there is only a 25% chance a sibling will be a match,” June, now 27, explained. “She stepped up without hesitation. Because of her sacrifice and gift to me, I was thankful to be her caregiver during her part of the transplant knowing she and mom would be mine.”

June and her mom, Carol, stayed at Gabriel House for 3 months before returning home. What they didn’t realize at the time, was Carol would be diagnosed with metastatic carcinoid cancer in March just six months after June’s transplant.

“We never expected to learn mom had cancer after we returned home from our first stay at Gabriel House,” June explained. “It was a shock and the news came five days after I learned of my relapse and need for a second bone marrow transplant. However, we picked ourselves up, became caregivers once again for each other, and were there to provide support and strength. Knowing we had our family back at Gabriel House made the return trip for my second bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy for mom much easier. There are amazing people at Gabriel House who truly care and stand beside you providing hope and inspiration along the way. It is this family bond that got us through our difficult days.”