Michael Leger's Fight Against Lymphoma

Hello Everyone,

Our nephew, Michael Leger has been very sick and was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. Michael is a smart, funny and incredibly focused young man who was supposed to be looking forward to his senior year at UNH. Instead, he will be spending the better part of his senior year enduring chemotherapy to battle this horrible disease. While Michael has high hopes of being able to move back to school this fall and finish up, the reality is that he’ll be home fighting the side effects of the treatments. Our sister has not been able to work since Michael became sick and the financial toll is starting to show. While caring for him, she is also trying to make ends meet and provide for him. She is too proud to ask for anything, so we are asking on her behalf. Below is a Facebook post Leslie shared yesterday. She is an incredibly private person and for her to share this is exposing her vulnerability. So please help out if you’re able so that Leslie can focus on caring for her son.

Hello friends. I wanted to share something very heartbreaking and personal to me. Although some of you may already know, I have yet to post this on Facebook.

My 22 year old son Michael has Cancer.

After being very sick for over a month and having several visits with the UNH Health Clinic where he was told he had post nasal drip and that perhaps his OCD was manifesting his cough into something bigger than it was, I brought him into my work for evaluation. It was then that Michael was diagnosed with Hodkgins Lymphoma. Our hearts are simply broken. This incredible young man has worked hard all his life and is supposed to start his Senior year and graduate next spring with not one, but two Bachelor degrees. Although as a mom, my main concern is his health and well being, Michael is mostly concerned about returning to school to finish his degrees. He is without a doubt, one of the kindest, hard working and compassionate young man I’ve ever known and I am so proud of him!

Since his diagnosis, he spent a week in the hospital doing testing, getting a PICC line, then a PORT placed and has begun his treatments. He has moved home from school so I can care for him. His first Chemo went well but his second treatment and subsequent growth factor injection, really kicked his ass. It’s heartbreaking to watch him suffer but with the support of his brother, Brandon and his twin sister Jacqlyn, his spirts are good.

We have a long road ahead of us as his treatment plan includes Chemo every other week for 6 months and the thought of how difficult this will be for him brings me to tears several times daily even though I am trying to be strong for him.

I’m asking that you all take a moment to say a prayer for my son and to remind you all to hold your babies and loved ones close tonight. You never think that something like this will hit your family but it can.

With Deepest Gratitude,

Lisa Edmonds and Laurie Perkins