A Rare Diagnosis
Tatiana’s doctors diagnosed her with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare form usually found in older patients. Her mutation, known as Inversion 3, made her case even more unusual. Despite her active lifestyle—running miles in Central Park, swimming the Hudson River, and skiing grueling races—she could not escape the shock of the diagnosis.
Grueling Treatment and Relentless Challenges
Tatiana underwent intense chemotherapy to reduce blast cells in her bone marrow, followed by two bone marrow transplants. Her sister donated stem cells for the first transplant, but the cancer returned. For the second, an unrelated donor was chosen. She later joined a CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial, fighting tirelessly against her illness.
A Mother’s Heartbreak
Throughout her treatment, Tatiana worried about her children. She spent nearly half of her daughter’s first year away due to infection risks and hospital stays. “I don’t know who she thinks I am,” Tatiana admitted, referring to her newborn daughter. Yet she focused on creating lasting memories with her son, cherishing small moments like his laughter and gestures of comfort.
Her daughter, full of energy, brought joy and chaos into the house with her curly red hair and bright yellow rain boots. Tatiana embraced these moments, staying present despite her illness.
A Life of Purpose and Love
