When Willow, an active, healthy five-year-old began experiencing unusual symptoms like decreased appetite and fatigue, her mother, Valerie, didn’t assume the worst. But after her bloodwork came back abnormal – showing a critically low platelet count – Valerie’s concerns grew. It was around midnight the following day when a medical team from Children’s National Hospital in DC delivered the news that Willow had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Receiving a diagnosis of any kind has implications not just for the person on the receiving end, but also for their family, friends and the people closest to them. As part of our commitment to patients and their care teams, this National Family Caregivers Month, we shine a light on this essential role and its many nuances.
During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize and honor family caregivers who dedicate time and resources to caring for their loved ones. Jazz is committed to raising awareness of the essential role that caregivers play and the challenges they face, and to educating communities on ways to increase support for them.
While Mark has been living with essential tremor (ET) for more than 40 years, his condition has grown progressively worse for the last three decades, creating significant problems in his day-to-day life. As a middle school teacher, he found it increasingly challenging to complete simple tasks, like writing on the board or grading papers.
