Leon’s Fight Against Cancer

Please keep my brother and the family of Leon Kaniszewski II in your thoughts and prayers as he was recently faced with a life threatening illness. On Monday, June 12 Leon was admitted to Covenant Medical Center for a blood transfusion secondary to abnormal lab results suggestive at that time of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Upon expert recommendations, Leon was urgently transferred to U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor so he could start aggressive treatment.

Prior to his hospitalization Leon struggled to gain access to health insurance due to work inconsistencies leaving him short on hours disqualifying him from medical coverage. Without an active health plan Leon’s care was delayed in the process causing unwarranted setbacks. After waiting two long weeks through biopsies, blood draws, scans and multiple blood transfusions, Leon was finally given his life altering diagnosis. He was found to have stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma. This blood cancer is a rare form of B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which starts out slow then moves to aggressive growth. With Leon found to be in the aggressive phase it is recommended that they harvest his stem cells to use in case of failed response as there is no cure for this condition but only hopes of a long term remission.

With his current health status, Leon is unable to work due to his weakened immune system and reduced physical endurance making this an added challenge both emotionally and financially for him and his family to deal with. He is in the process of working with social workers through U of M Health System trying to get health insurance to fund his treatments so he can start chemotherapy and immunotherapy as soon as possible. As many of you can imagine the urgency to start treatment is essential on his outcome and prognosis of a successful remission in the future. In the meanwhile, Leon is trying to keep his head high and not let his emotions overwhelm him for he is holding onto hope that he will beat this cancer and be able to see his children grow up. So please find it in your hearts to offer any support you can to uplift Leon and his family as he fights for his life and his long term struggle ahead.

With sincere appreciation and gratitude, Jesse