
The Jeffrey's Voice Leukemia Research Fund
supports leukemia research at Winship Cancer Institute and was
established in memory of two young brothers, Jeffrey Hammond Horne and
Brian Daniel Horne.
My name is Nancy Horne, and Leukemia is
my enemy. That's why I established the Jeffrey's Voice Leukemia Research
Fund at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.
In
addition to so many others, perhaps someone you know or love, Leukemia
took the lives of two beautiful and amazing young brothers – Jeffrey,
directly, and Brian, indirectly. Jeffrey and Brian are my children, and,
but for Leukemia, they would be here with me today.
Their story,
sadly, is a short one. It is the story of two brothers who came into
this world just months apart, grew up together, attended the same
schools, enjoyed the same friends, and were, themselves, lifelong
friends and companions. On Jeffrey's twentieth birthday, he was
diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia. Over the next several months,
Jeffrey endured aggressive treatments, but was never able to achieve a
lasting remission. When it became apparent that the only possibility for
a cure for Jeffrey was a bone marrow/stem cell transplant, Brian
immediately stepped forward. He was a perfect match! Although the
transplant was initially successful, both boys were devastated when
Jeffrey's Leukemia returned just five months later. Even though the
preparation for donation was difficult on Brian, he was more than
willing to make other donations to Jeffrey as necessary. Unfortunately,
Jeffrey was never well enough to receive the additional life-saving
donations.
Despite the horror of his illness, Jeffrey never lost
his sense of humor, graciousness, determination, spirit or faith; he
never gave up. During the course of his treatments, Jeffrey participated
in several clinical trials to help others with the disease. He wrote in
his journal, "this next treatment is another experimental one and
probably of no use to me, but I don't mind being a lab rat if it will
help other leukemia patients." Because of his courage, his voice spoke
to many. When Jeffrey's prognosis became just about as bad as it could
possibly be, his faith continued to give him strength. One late night
shortly before his last hospital stay, Jeffrey said, "Mom, there is a
plan for this. It may be that I will get well and can help others with
Leukemia. Or it may be that I won't...then YOU can."
Jeffrey's
struggle with leukemia ended on January 30, 2008, after a near year-long
heroic battle. Shortly after losing Jeffrey, Brian announced that he
was joining the National Marrow Donor Registry. He said to me, "Mom, if I
can give another person even five more months, then I want to do that,
and I know Jeffrey would want me to do that." He did not have the time.
Brian died of a broken heart just 17 weeks after losing his beloved
brother. Brian was 19.
It is not clear what causes Leukemia, so
there are no known ways to prevent it. While there are some risk
factors, many who are exposed to the risks, never develop Leukemia, and
many who are never exposed to the risks, do. Leukemia strikes
indiscriminately and shows no mercy. The effects are devastating and the
treatments very difficult for both the patients and their families.
While progress has been made in the search for a cure, there is much
work still to be done. That's why research into the causes and cures is
so very critical. The Jeffrey's Voice Leukemia Research Fund provides
important assistance to research initiatives in the Bone Marrow
Transplant Department at Winship.
Together, we truly can make a
difference. Together, we can reach the day when no more are lost to
Leukemia, when all remissions are permanent, and when, finally, there is
a cure for all. To support our efforts to find a cure, please donate
today! THANK YOU!!