Out of cancer, into the light

• What: Light the Night Walk.

• When: 5 p.m. Saturday.

• Where: Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland.

• Cost: Free, but participants are encouraged to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

• Registration: www.lightthenight.org/oswim

Last fall was an exciting time for Kendall Jones.

She had just begun her new job as a teacher at Hockinson Middle School. She got engaged to her now-husband, Richard Jones.

But just five days after the proposal, Kendall Jones was dealt a devastating blow. The 31-year-old was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“I was looking at being out the rest of the school year,” she said. “It was really devastating on multiple levels. I had no idea how I was going to financially deal with the cancer treatment.”

With help from her family, new colleagues and the young adult cancer support group offered by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Jones made it through her diagnosis and treatment. Now, she’s ready to help others.

This weekend, Jones will walk in the annual Light the Night Walk sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event raises money for the organization and shines a light on blood cancers. Jones has raised more than $1,000 for the event.

Hodgkin’s diagnosis

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society estimates more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. An estimated 156,420 people are expected to be diagnosed with blood cancer this year.

Jones’ diagnosis came after the Vancouver woman felt a lump above her collarbone.

Jones visited her doctor and then, after her new health insurance kicked in on Oct. 1, 2013, she underwent testing. The tests revealed Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. With Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and a specific type of large, malignant cell — the Reed-Sternberg cell — is present.

While Jones’ diagnosis came after her health insurance went into effect, her cancer was considered a pre-existing condition since she initially saw a doctor about the lump prior to that effective date. While her treatment was covered, she was not eligible for disability pay.

The human resources department at the Hockinson School District sent an email to its staff, sharing Jones’ story. Twenty-seven district employees came forward and anonymously donated their vacation days to Jones. She received enough paid sick leave to make it through the end of the school year.

“It was really amazing, a really powerful outpouring,” Jones said. “They were able to help me in one of the most amazing ways.”

Before beginning treatment, Jones had her eggs harvested in case the chemotherapy affected her fertility. She began treatment Dec. 19 — one day before Hockinson schools broke for the holidays. She finished treatment at the end of May.

In those six months, Jones received chemotherapy treatment once every two weeks. She sat in a large vinyl lounge chair for four or five hours while drugs were pushed into her body through syringes and IV drips.

For several days after each treatment, Jones was miserable. She was tired, weak and nauseous. Her body ached. After three or four days, Jones would slowly start to feel better.

“Then, just as you’re feeling vaguely human, it’s time for your next treatment,” she said.

By the end of treatment, Jones’s body felt wrecked. The twice-a-month beating her body endured left her feeling like someone three times her age.

Now, four months later, Jones said she’s still recovering from the aggressive treatment. She still has aches and joint pain and she tires easily, but those are minor complaints, Jones said.

“It’s amazing how your body can recover from the intense trauma,” she said.

Successful treatment

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is considered one of the most curable forms of cancer, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The five-year relative survival rate for people younger than 45 at diagnosis is 93.5 percent, according to the organization.

While Jones’s treatment was successful — she received a clean scan in July — she said the treatment wasn’t easy. Her immune system was essentially nonexistent, leaving her susceptible to illnesses. She had to go in regularly for white blood cell boosts that caused pain in her bones. She needed blood transfusions since her red blood cell counts were so low, leaving her breathless after getting dressed in the morning.

“It was really, really awful,” Jones said.

Jones will continue to be monitored by her oncologist, with follow-up appointments every three months and a PET scan once a year.

The Joneses followed through with their plans to marry this summer, doing so Aug. 26 in an intimate backyard wedding. Only five people were in attendance, including the bride, groom and officiant.

A week later, Jones began a new school year at Hockinson Middle School. She’s teaching classes in leadership, yearbook, speech and debate, and reading.

Jones was excited to return to her family in Hockinson, to reassure her students that she was OK. She was heartbroken to leave them but learned a lot about herself while she was undergoing treatment.

“For me, cancer has been something that’s made me incredibly grateful,” Jones said. “It was a moment I was most alive and most grateful to be alive.”