Margaret Smith lived a quiet life in Marietta, Georgia, with her husband, Skip. In 2002, her life took a turn when she was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Her doctors reassured her that CLL was manageable, and most patients outlived it. By 2015, her scans showed no signs of the disease, astonishing her oncologist.
In 2016, Margaret began experiencing unbearable pain, and Skip rushed her to the hospital. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a mass in her abdomen, and her oncologist diagnosed her with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Three months of R-CHOP chemotherapy showed positive results, and the cancer was no longer active.
Unfortunately, by the end of the year, the cancer returned more aggressively. Her oncologist recommended a bone marrow transplant, which Margaret reluctantly underwent in January 2018, followed by 100 days of isolation. Once again, her scans were clear, but the symptoms returned in early winter.
Margaret’s doctor mentioned a new, promising procedure called CAR-T therapy, and worked hard to find a doctor who would take her on as a patient, which ultimately connected her with City of Hope. The treatment involved a rigorous six-week hospital stay, so Margaret and her husband, Skip, packed up for an extended stay in California in the beginning of 2019. Together, they found solace in the compassionate, kind support of City of Hope’s medical staff. “If it weren’t for City of Hope, Dr. Herrera, and Dr. Trisal, I wouldn’t be alive today. I sing praises of City of Hope!” says Margaret.
Today, she tells everyone about the exceptional treatment at City of Hope. Even though it’s an hour’s drive to their new facility in Newnan, GA, she always says, “That’s the place to go for cancer.”
To ensure others facing similar battles could find the same hope and care she did, Margaret decided to include a bequest in her will to City of Hope. This donation reflects her gratitude, and her legacy will help provide future patients with hope and the same life-saving opportunities she received.
