Support for Newlyweds both Fighting Leukemia

In January 2018, Luke, a dedicated PhD student less than 3 months from his 27th birthday, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-Cell ALL). His family and friends were in awe of his determination throughout the grueling treatment process, including a stem cell transplant. The following year he relapsed, which meant the long search began for another stem cell donor. In the meantime, COVID 19 came along to slow that process down.  Luke’s mental toughness and spirit was buoyed by his newlywed wife from the US, Lindsey, who supported and cared for him every step of the way even as she worked to complete her doctorate in pharmacy and to become eligible to practice in Canada. 

Once a new donor was secured for Luke, he underwent his second transplant, with the knowledge this time of just how difficult this would be. Undaunted, he carried on. The day Luke was about to go home, Lindsey, who was finally just beginning to work in her field, was admitted to the hospital. Her blood work came back with low cell counts and a bone marrow biopsy was taken. On May 14, 2020 Lindsey was also diagnosed with the very same B-Cell ALL.  

The odds of one 28 year old getting this form of cancer are extremely low; the median age of diagnosis is 15.  The odds of a married couple getting the exact same type of cancer are astronomically small. To be fighting it at the same time is beyond contemplation.

This young couple is in need of help.  The last two and half years have been an epic challenge and the next year or more will be even tougher for Luke and Lindsey - physically, emotionally and economically.  The treatment and recovery process is draining physically.  Physical distancing and the lack of personal support that these strange times entail has and will continue to challenge them emotionally. COVID assistance benefits do not apply as they did not lose their jobs to the pandemic.  

This is an unbelievable situation, happening to two of the best young people you would ever meet. They are both brilliant in their own fields, and shining examples of love, kindness and all that is good in this world. It is not fair, but it is very real.  As a community, we can’t fix them physically.  That’s on their amazing medical team and themselves.  We can support them emotionally but the day-to-day financial burdens only add to the daily stresses.  Luke and Lindsey are very strong and equally as humble.  We, their families will be helping out as best we can, but we are reaching out to ask for a little more.  

If you can, please contribute to Luke and Lindsey's GoFundMe campaign to help them to keep their apartment and vehicle to get to and from hospital appointments, feed themselves and their pets, pay for their utilities and  home healthcare assistance while they both fight this terrible disease. We, their family, are deeply grateful.




Lindsey has been keeping a blog/journal through her eyes since Luke was first Diagnosed in 2018. You can read her first hand experience here: https://lifeloveandleukemia.blog/