Manasquan Woman’s Story of Cancer Thru Pregnancy

Laila Hardy thought she was over her cancer...until it came back while she was pregnant with her first child.

It all started in 2006 when Laila was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. It was an aggressive form, and Laila underwent years of treatment. Then in 2011, she received the good news that she was considered cancer-free.

In 2015, against all odds, Laila was blessed with a miracle: She became pregnant. But as she was undergoing routine testing, she once again got diagnosed with the same leukemia she thought she has beaten NINE years earlier. Although she needed a transplant to survive, she put it off in order to wait for her son to be born. Laila was surrounded by an excellent and supportive team of doctors during her pregnancy while undergoing some treatments that she was able to have while pregnant.

Once her precious son Luke was born, Laila had to leave him at just two-and-a-half weeks old to be admitted for a double-cord bone marrow transplant. This treatment, although difficult, saved Laila's life. And today Laila and her husband Erik are enjoying every single minute watching their beautiful boy (who is now 3-and-a-half) grow up.

Now Laila wants to help others fighting a blood cancer diagnosis by raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), which is at the forefront of the fight to cure cancer. This organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated to creating a world without blood cancers and was very supportive during both of Laila's battles with Leukemia. They have invested over a billion dollars in groundbreaking research and have pioneered may of today's most innovative approaches.

Many of the therapies developed by LLS not only help blood cancer patients, but are also able to be used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. And some LLS drugs are now saving thousands of lives every day.

Laila is volunteering with LLS to help other patients get the best care available. Helping other patients is what fuels her now. In addition to making donations per patient she is able to help, she is now involved with the NJ Man and Woman of the Year campaign.

Laila hopes to see the day that a cancer diagnosis is met with "Don't worry...there is a cure!" And, in the meantime, she would like patients to have healthier, less toxic treatments. She believes it can happen and she would love to have you support her campaign, knowing the funds will go to the right places and that more people will learn about how LLS has helped so many.

Laila is asking for donations before June 5th and hopes to reach $75,000. CLICK HERE if you can support this great cause.