Cindy - CML Zero Club Member #590

By Cindy Louey

I am giving up my birthday prezzies to help families facing blood cancer! party popper icon

Today, 53 Australians will be told that they have blood cancer and tomorrow – another 53 families will be devastated by the same news.

23 years ago (on 28 April 2000), I was admitted to the Alfred Hospital after a blood test revealed that I have Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML). I was given an initial prognosis of 2-4 years and the only option for a cure was a bone marrow transplant.

I didn't find a match for a bone marrow donor, but I was given access to Phase III of a new clinical trial. It was due to chance that in a 50/50 randomised trial, I was placed in the trial group for STI-571. 

This trial drug became a breakthrough treatment for CML and is now available worldwide as IMATINIB (Gleevec/Glivec), a targeted therapy for leukaemia.
I still take Glivec tablets every day.

I also have a milestone birthday in April. 
(Sometimes, I wasn't sure that I would reach this milestone.)
In a few years, I will have lived with blood cancer for half my life.

The Leukaemia Foundation quietly supported me during a time when I wasn't working a few years ago. This is an opportunity to give back to an organisation that genuinely supports patients and funds lifesaving medical research.

If you have the means to give any amount, please make a tax-deductible contribution.

Heartfelt thanks for your support of people living with CML, including me.

Notes:

1. In the early days of the clinical trials, Zavie Miller, a CML patient in Canada, created and maintained a list of patients with 0-1% Philadelphia chromosome in the bone marrow. Philadelphia chromosome is the marker for CML. Zavie assigned a Zero Club number (via email) for patients around the world. When I achieved CCR (complete cytogenetic response) and 0% in 2003, I was assigned Club #590.
Posted in memory of Zavie Miller (d. 2012).

2. My haematologist in Melbourne, together with Novartis, made arrangements for me to join the US clinical trial based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. During the two years I spent in the USA, I participated in two Relay For Life events. I was a Trial participant and still received bone marrow biopsies (along with blood tests) during this time.
Image: Relay For Life event, April 2002

Thank you to my Supporters

Donation $52.75

Celia H

Donation $52

Vanessa S

Donation $21.10

Rosina Andrew

For my dear friend Cindy!

Donation $60

Rosie

Donation $20

S

Donation $55

Jez & Scott

Best Birthday Wishes and continued Good Health to you! You are cherished and valued and loved and so important to many people. Keep being the kind and generous person you are. Much love always xxx

Donation $52.75

Pip

Happy birthday beautiful Cindy! I wish you many years of continued good health and happiness. I could not think of a worthier cause on your special day! Love Pip xxx

Donation $79.13

Sharon

Happy XXth Birthday Cindy!!

Donation $8

Vani Genga

Best wishes to you

Donation $31.65

L And E .

Donation $26.38

Jan Evans

Happiest of Happy Birthdays Cindy! xxx

Donation $55.12

Hamish Storrie

Happy birthday Cindy!!!

Donation $63.30

Jeannie Van De Velde

Happy Birthday Cindy. What a lovely way to celebrate and raise funds!

Donation $30

Brad Denniston

Donation $100

Hans And Liesl Ziegler Van Deursen

Happy birthday Cindy! Sorry for the belated wishes and donation, but we hope you had a wonderful day!

Donation $26.38

Anonymous

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. -Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Wishing you a happy day and more for all the birthdays to come.

Donation $52.75

Michelle Stephenson

Happy birthday Cindy!

Donation $52.75

Maria Cimino

Admiring your strength and courage and as a fellow blood cancer survivor this is an amazing way to give back so others can have the chance at hope and survival.

Donation $55.92

Meredith

Wishing you continued good health!

Donation $52.75

Emma Whitby

❤️

Donation $55.92

Ellie

You're a legend Cindy!!!