Letitia’s Story of Hope
At just 25 years old, Letitia Fitzgerald, never expected to hear the words “you have lymphoma”.
In 2023, her life changed in an instant when she was diagnosed with blood cancer.
“It wasn’t what I was expecting, especially for being only 25 at the time. So it was quite a shock.”
For Letitia, the journey that followed would bring difficult treatment, uncertainty and moments when the future felt far from certain.
But it would also bring hope.
When standard treatment isn’t enough
For some people living with blood cancer, standard treatments such as chemotherapy may not provide the response doctors hope for.
Letitia was one of those patients.
Her treatment journey eventually brought her to CAR-T cell therapy, one of the most innovative forms of treatment available for certain blood cancers.
CAR-T cell therapy works by using a patient’s own immune cells. These cells are collected from the patient and specially modified so they can recognise and attack cancer cells before being returned to the body.
It is a highly specialised treatment that represents an extraordinary advance in the way some blood cancers can be treated.
And in Ireland, this pioneering work is taking place at St. James’s Hospital in Dublin.
St. James’s Hospital recently celebrated an extraordinary milestone : 150 patients have now received CAR-T cell therapy at the hospital.
Behind that number are 150 individual stories.
- 150 patients.
- 150 families.
- 150 journeys filled with uncertainty, courage and hope.
Letitia is one of them.
Today, her story looks very different from the one that began with her diagnosis in 2023.
She is now looking forward to the future and making precious memories with her husband and beautiful baby daughter, Emilia.
And that makes her story particularly powerful.
From surviving to living
For someone who has faced cancer at such a young age, milestones that many of us take for granted can take on a completely different meaning.
- Holding your baby.
- Watching her grow.
- Making plans for the future.
- Creating memories together.
For Letitia, these moments are a reminder of how far she has come.
Her story is not simply about a remarkable treatment. It is about what that treatment can make possible – more time, more memories and more tomorrows.
Supporting patients beyond treatment
Behind every patient receiving pioneering treatment is a wider network of care and support.
The Bone Marrow for Leukaemia Trust has supported patients and families at St. James’s Hospital for more than 40 years.
Our support includes providing seven fully furnished apartments free of charge for patients and their families who need to be close to the hospital during treatment and recovery.
We also support vital equipment, services, research and initiatives that help improve care for people living with blood cancers.
Because treatment is only one part of a patient’s journey.
Being close to family matters.
Having somewhere safe and comfortable to stay matters.
Knowing that someone is there to support you, matters.
150 patients and hope for many more
Letitia’s story shows what can happen when medical innovation, specialist care and support come together.
Her journey began with a devastating diagnosis at just 25. Today, she is a wife and a mum making fabulous memories.
That is what progress in blood cancer treatment is ultimately about.
Giving people the chance to look beyond their diagnosis and towards their future.
The Bone Marrow for Leukaemia Trust is proud to support the patients, families and medical teams working towards that future.
Help us support the next generation of patients and families affected by blood cancer.
Donate. Fundraise. Share our story. Help us give hope.