As a United States marine, Captain Jerome Reihl puts his heart and soul into his family and his military career. He needed that kind of resilience after being diagnosed with leukemia. This 19 year marine veteran explained that though his body was weakened by disease he was able to fight cancer with the help of his physicians, friends and family.
‘God has blessed me with the greatest family”
Jerome says his love affair with his wife began in high school. “She is an amazing woman”
They have built a life that centers around their 6 children “God is good”
But in 2012, a trip to the dentist revealed a threat threat to his life with his family. A dental hygentist stopped an examination of Jerome’s mouth.
“She just said there is something wrong with you. The entire top of your mouth is completely purple. Where my tongue touched the top of my mouth was breaking the blood cells from my blood count being so low.”
“Acute myeloid leukemia. He was 33 years old.”
“I was obviously taken aback”
Jerome needed a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately he didn’t have to look far to find one. His younger brother armand was a perfect match
“He didn’t hesitate. He put his life on hold”But a deadly infection set-in. Jerome’s life was on the line for 2 weeks. This time his older donated white blood cells to fight
the infection
“Nobody hesitated”
Dr. George Geils led the team at Roper St. Francis Cancer Care Blood and Marrow Transplant Program that saved Jerome’s life…
“It seems counterintuitive that you give chemotherapy to someone who is ill but it is only the chemotherapy that has any chance of getting him well so it is one of those things where you treat the sick patient and it may make them sicker but the ultimate outcome is remission and subsequently cure.”
But Dr. Geils says caring for a blood cancer patient comprehensive care which includes assistance from the leukemia and lymphoma society.
Whether it is housing or travel or they are a partner in the care of these patients and they really have a vital mission.”
Stephanie Weiss is with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society “The Leukemia & lymphoma society provides a lot services. How much were you able to give to patients in South Carolina last year? Last year we were able to give patient $800 thousand dollars”
Jerome is still undergoing chemotherapy. He encourages people to pray for him…his family and his physicians…he wants no sympathy…JH e is always faithful… a marine for life I remember Dr Geils said if i had to pick a patient to have this it would be a marine in his mid 30’s. So I am
probably the best candidate to survive.”
