DIAGNOSIS: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

DIAGNOSIS DATE: May 2002

I turned 40 in February 2002 and began to reflect on my life. I’ve
pretty much been a work-oholic for the last 20 years. After leaving
college in the UK I started work in the video game business and never
looked back. I was transferred by Electronic Arts to their head office
in the Bay area in 1990 and worked my way up the tree to VP Marketing.
In 1996 I left and joined an online games start-up called pogo.com which
by a strange twist of fate was acquired 5 years later by Electronic
Arts. I’m now running the pogo studio and managing marketing for
EA.com.

I was starting to think that perhaps 40 would be a good time to explore
other areas; more travel, perhaps cooking school; perhaps teaching.
I’ve enjoyed success in my career but felt somewhat unfulfilled
personally. In preparation for a new start I took advantage of a
company physical only to discover that there was something wrong with my
blood count. I remember my doctor saying that there’s definitely
something wrong but the least likely thing it could be is leukemia. Two
weeks later I was back in his office learning that in fact I did have
leukemia.

It was obviously a shock and prompted a further evaluation of my life.
All I knew at the time was that I was really young to get CLL, I was
stage O and because of that there was very little to do but sit and wait
to get sick. That has been the most difficult thing to except - it’s
certainly one reason that I’ve wanted to get involved in the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society and Team in Training. I feel like I’m proactively
doing something for my health and to help find a cure for folks like
myself.

Since my diagnosis I have successfully completed the Treasure Island
Triathlon, Wildflower Olympic and in 1994 Wildflower half Ironman.

I’ve gone from being completely un-athletic to somewhat an athlete. In
addition, I’ve managed to raise about $120K for the cause. As for my
health, nothing has changed since my diagnosis. I continue to go for
check-ups every six months and try and live as healthy a life as I can.
Joining the run time this year is part of a bigger goal of doing an
Ironman next year. I think the run will be my biggest challenge.

-Lesley

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