Honored Hero
This year's honored skipper is Bill Luisi. The committee is thrilled to
honor him at the 2010 Leukemia Cup Regatta. Below, Bill describes in his
own words his fight against cancer and what the Leukemia Cup Regatta means
to him.
It was January 2005, during a standard blood test, that my primary physician discovered my white blood count was abnormally high. After two more tests, the initial results were confirmed and I was referred a Hematologist, Dr. Naresh Gupta. Frankly, it never occurred to me at all that I could have a form of leukemia, so it was a real shock be told this was my diagnosis. My mind began to race with questions. How could did I get this? What are my treatment options? How long can I survive? Dr. Gupta could only say that further testing was necessary to give me any of these answers. For another month I was in limbo; fearful of getting a worst case diagnosis, but praying for healing and God's peace. My wife, daughter and son were understandably upset and worried too. Finally the tests revealed I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or CLL. I learned that CLL is a slow growing type of leukemia and that it is currently incurable. Treatment was available, but in my case it was not yet at a stage where that was needed. This was huge relief, because I had renewed hope that I could still survive to old age.
For the four years that followed, I had tests and exams to gauge the progress of the disease. In January of this year, Dr. Gupta told me my leukemia had reached a stage where chemotherapy was necessary. My spleen had doubled in size, my white blood counts had tripled and the cancer was in 70% of my marrow. Thanks to the research funding of the LLS, the latest treatment for CLL involves a remarkable drug called Rituxan. The "magic" of Rituxan is that it can find and mark the leukemia cancer cells, so that the other chemo drugs can identify and kill those specific cells. In my case this chemotherapy regime worked very well. The tests showed after just three cycles, that all my counts were in the normal range and the cancer had retracted to only 5% of my bone marrow.
Like everyone who is faced with leukemia or lymphoma, my perspective on life changed after the diagnosis. My faith has grown deeper, and I constantly look for and cherish times with family and friends. I also realized a strong motivation to reach out to others with cancer, especially to those who have fair more serious conditions. This has led to my interest in the LLS and to helping with fundraising through events like the Leukemia Cup Regatta. Sailing is a sport I have loved since learning to sail a Flying Scot on White Rock lake 37 years ago. I later crewed on J-24s and Catalina 22s, and ultimately became an avid board sailor. Unquestionably, I have met some of the best people through sailing. That is why it is no surprise that everyone at the DCYC is willing to give so generously to this cause.
Four years from now it is likely I will need to take action again, but who knows what "magic" treatments or even cures will be available then thanks to the efforts of the LLS.