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Meet 25 year old, Mallory Chandler. Mallory is a “Cancer Survivor”.
Here’s her story….
In September of 2000, at 15 years old, Mallory seemed to have everything going for her. Just entering her Sophomore year in High School, in Decatur, Alabama she was the perfect picture of health. She ran track and cross country and lived life to the fullest.
Soon after her sophomore year started, she began experiencing headaches. The headaches were bad at first, but soon became debilitating. It soon became evident that something very serious was wrong. One day her headache became so bad that when she stood up, the room began to spin and she blacked out.
An Initial...Wrong Diagnosis....
Her mother called her doctor and the said to bring her in. After being examined thoroughly, a diagnosis of a sinus infection coupled with vertigo was made and she was sent home with some antibiotics.
The next day, Mallory seemed completely lethargic. She was exhausted and slept for 24 hours straight. The next day, her mother called the doctor and insisted that she be seen again. This time when she went back to the doctor, and blood work was ordered. As they waited patiently in the examining room, the door to the room opened and the doctor gave them some horrifying news…. Mallory’s blood count was so low that her brain was not getting enough oxygen; hence the reason she was so tired and lethargic.
Something Was Terribly Wrong...
The doctor had already alerted Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, where an Child Oncologist and Hemotologist were awaiting her arrival. Mallory and her mom had no idea that what seemed like a simple visit to the doctor would turn in to years of a medical nightmare…..Off they went to make the drive from Decatur, AL to Birmingham.
The trip to Birmingham was a long one….it seemed like it took forever. Mallory’s mom was sick with worry….Sometimes “not knowing” is worse than knowing or being told what’s wrong. It’s the minutes, hours and sometimes days of waiting that can make you crazy.
When Mallory arrived a Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, they were immediately assigned to an Emergency Room. By the time they arrived, Mallory’s condition had worsened. She was not able to walk into the hospital without assistance….her mother had to help get her inside. It was obvious to the doctors and nurses that something very serious was wrong with Mallory. They immediately admitted her to a room and just as she entered her assigned room, she passed out in the hallway. Doctors began blood transfusions to get her blood count up. She was given 4 pints of blood which took her blood count to about 60% of what it should be. Doctors then ordered a bone aspiration. This would help determine what was going on. Everyone was hopeful that this was some type of virus….but in the backs of everyone’s minds….the possibility of “cancer” echoed in their heads.
Their Worst Nightmare Was Confirmed...
After all test results came back, their worse nightmare was confirmed. Mallory had Leukemia….cancer of the blood. To make matters worse, she was diagnosed with ALL Acute Lympoblastic Leukemia….something that is most common in children ages to 8 to 15. Because Mallory was already 15, she would require more extensive and more rigorous chemotherapy. September 22, 2000 was a day that Mallory and her Mother would never forget…..
Mallory’s world had been turned upside down. The next 2 ½ years would be spent enduring horrible rounds of chemotherapy. Sickness like you can never imagine consumed her 15 year old body. Life as she knew it no longer existed. She went from high school athlete to a very, very sick and lifeless teenager.
For anyone who has had a child with cancer, you know the routine….visits to and from the hospital….endless needle sticks…..sleepless nights….nausea that never seems to end….medications that alter your mood and behavior…..and in general feeling like your world is coming to an end.
Her sophomore year was spent at home, being tutored whenever she was well enough, by a homebound teacher. Even with this extra support, Mallory quickly fell behind due to the extreme sickness from all the treatments. She had to continue her sophomore year into the summer in order to stay caught up in school.
Team In Training...Raising Money For Leukemia and Lymphoma Research
Mallory’s mom wanted to do something to help raise money for Leukemia research She signed up to train to run a half marathon with an organization called Team In Training. For over 20 years, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training® (TNT) has grown to become an unparalleled sports training program. More than 420,000 participants, from first timers to seasoned athletes, have trained with the Team and achieved their best at marathons, half marathons, triathlons, cycling events and hiking adventures.
In exchange for unsurpassed endurance sports training and support, participants raise money to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society find cures for leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma. Participants have raised over $1 billion dollars towards the fight against blood cancer!
Mallory’s mom trained to run the half marathon at Virginia Beach. She was assigned to a team of others who were also training to run and who wanted to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Her team “adopted” Mallory has their honored patient hero and they all ran the ½ marathon on Mallory’s honor.
Mallory's Junior and Senior Year In High School...
After a year on Chemo, Mallory’s treatments seemed to be working and she was put on chemotherapy maintenance. Her junior year was filled with ups and down…highs and lows…she continued to be tutored from home. Chemo maintenance therapy consisted of a shot in the leg once per week, two oral chemo pills every night and a spinal tap once every 8 weeks supplemented with a dose of chemo during the tap.
In March of Mallory’s Senior year in high school, she turned 18. Where had the past three years gone? Now in remission, the memories she has of those last three years are mostly of being very sick and going in and out of the hospital. She finally finished chemotherapy in April of her senior year. In May, 2003, she graduated!
Where Is She Now?
Mallory attended College and graduated from the University of North Alabama in Florence. After college she got a job in Atlanta, which is now her home. She works with a real estate company in Norcross, in the client services department.
Two years ago, in 2008, Mallory’s doctors informed her that her bone density was very low and that she needed to begin a serious weight bearing exercise program. It was at this point in time that Mallory remembered the individuals who had run in her honor with Team in Training when she was so sick.
25 Year Old Mallory Gives Back To Help Others....
She decided to join Team In Training in Atlanta. She very much wanted to “give back” and wanted to be trained to run so that she too could raise money for Leukemia Research in hopes that she could make a difference in someone else’s life.
In 2008, Mallory trained for and ran the Nike Women’s ½ marathon in San Francisco, California. She personally raised $4,000 which went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. For the first time in years, Mallory felt like she had her life back. She was finally able to run again just like she did her sophomore year in high school before she became ill.
Mallory didn’t stop there…..last year, in 2009, she signed up to train and run the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville Tennessee. The race date was April 25, 2009…..also the anniversary of her 6th year off chemo! Mallory raised $2,000 during this run and completed the ½ marathon in record time.
Mallory Runs a FULL Marathon!!
In 2010, Mallory decided to take her running to the next level. She signed up to run a FULL marathon (26.2 miles) at the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. Again, this run took place in April…..this time, seven years had past since her last chemo treatment. The training for a full marathon was intense. But Mallory was determined. Race day arrived…..and with it came the most intense weather that Nashville had experienced in decades.
Mallory started the race and as she ran, the rains intensified. Thunder and lightening ensued and at mile 20.4…..the race was called off. Mallory had given her all and was so ready both physically and emotionally to complete this race. It was devastating to her and to all of the other runners, that the race was called off at the very end and they were all unable to finish the final six miles. Mallory had trained so hard and had raised over $4,000 to go towards Leukemia Research.
Last week, Mallory was able to “finish” the full marathon through an opportunity to run again in Atlanta. (MALLORY IS RUNNER #400)
As she crossed the finish line, she her heart filled with emotion and her eyes filled with tears. Tears also filled the eyes of all who knew her story. Twenty-five year old Mallory had finally realized her dream to run a full marathon and to be cancer free. Her mother was there to meet her at the finish line with open arms and embraced her daughter as she fell into her arms. So many memories….so much emotion….
Mallory Raises over $10,000 for Leukemia Research...
In all, Mallory has raised over $10,000 through Team In Training for Leukemia Research. She is slated to run again on 10-10-10 in Chicago for the Chicago Marathon. Training for this race begins this week.
Mallory had beat the odds….she will never forget the years she spent as a cancer patient. Although those days were filled with darkness, she is grateful that she is a survivor and that she is able to give back through her affiliation with Team In Training.
Mallory will always be grateful for the love and support from her Mom, who still resides in Decatur, AL….to her father, step mom and brother Phillip, who live in Mississippi and to her boyfriend Cody, who is a student at the University of Alablama at Huntsville. She is also grateful to the countless other families members, friends, and medical professionals who were at her side during her illness.
Mallory continues to have yearly visits to the onlogologist and hemotologist. She is proof that HOPE exists for children and teens with cancer. Mallory can be emailed at malc1810@yahoo.com
Um, I love to laugh...my life tends to be a little random...my name means ill-fated luck...if there is air, I will trip over it...I have the most awesomely amazing friends in the entire world...music is the greatest thing ever...I love sunny days and warm weather...Fall is my favorite season, I mean football and Thanksgiving, what can be better than that?...My little brother is the cutest thing ever...and playing in the rain is so much fun!
Life is good..... :)
~~Mallory Chandler~~
Chuck also raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by running marathons and half marathons through Team In Training. He was on hand with the camera to witness Mallory's accomplishment as she crossed the finish line in Atlanta.
Chuck Williams Photography
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