The battle against cancer is a difficult one. A battle that is very long, and full of fear, and at times, lonely.

Many of us may have heard stories of friends or family members going through this painful struggle, and some of us have had this difficult experience firsthand. No one should go through this ordeal alone, and we will not let the Doan family fight alone.

During October 2016, Thanh Doan, a kindhearted friend, devoted wife, and loving mother, was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). This is a rare form of Leukemia that forms in the blood and bone marrow. While being a very challenging disease to face on its own, Thanh’s AML has been particularly challenging because of her dual diagnosis with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a disease in which the bone marrow fails, making it much more difficult to combat.

As of today, Thanh has fought hard through several rounds of heavy chemotherapy, prolonged inpatient hospitalizations, recurring anemia and blood transfusions, serious infections leading to unexpected surgery, and stem cell & bone marrow transplants.

In addition to the difficulties associated with both the leukemia and its harsh treatment, the Doan family has taken on a tremendous amount of emotional hardship. Mr. Chut Doan, Thanh’s hardworking husband and dedicated father of the family, has been their sole means of financial support. Their three inspiring children, Forrest, Christina and Sean, have been a blessing to their parents - each of them supporting their parents earnestly and making them proud every step of the way.

A lot of this story is unspoken - a story of deeply held appreciation, of great personal sacrifice, of a strong reminder to all of us of what truly matters in life.

No family is ever ready to face the relentless fear of pain and loss that cancer brings. The distress of anticipating unpredictable test results, the chaos of managing appointments with multiple specialists for never-ending examinations, and the isolation that is caused as a natural complication of having a suppressed immune system are all a part of this difficult reality.

As close friends and family, we can be a part of their journey in aiding their struggles of today and tomorrow. We have the power to help lift the Doan family’s burden of serious financial hardship, soothe their fears of losing medical insurance, and shield them from the unforeseen challenges of the future.

If you would like to be a part of our journey to triumph with Thanh, we welcome you to contribute to this fundraiser. We extend our heartfelt thank you in advance.

June 27, 2016
Before Thanh's chemotherapy treatments that started in October 2016

 November 23, 2016
Thanh in the City of Hope Medical Center, Pasadena, CA

March 29, 2016  
Thanh's healthcare team singing "Happy Birthday!" after her stem cell transplant

April 17, 2017 
Thanh celebrating after being discharged from 4 months of hospitalization in the City of Hope



Family outing with Mr. & Mrs. Doan with Christina and Forrest years ago

Beautiful family portrait Christmas 2015