The Sauer family’s lives changed drastically when, at a general check-up appointment for 1-year-old Misha, the doctors began taking a blood test for extremely low platelets. Dad Joe was experiencing pain in his neck and was also going to the doctor for testing. Just before Christmas that year, Joe was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer that starts in the body’s immune system. Several days later, Misha was diagnosed with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, which is a rare form of cancer found in a very small percentage of children. Just a couple of weeks after both diagnoses, Mother Nadya announced they were pregnant with their second daughter, Sasha. Today, baby Sasha is several months old and entering the most courageous family. Joe and Misha are both in remission and doing very well at every check-up.
“We are thankful to the Northern Lights Foundation and their mission because they were the very first support we ever received,” Nadya said. “We got a check in the mail immediately with no questions asked. With not having any family here, we felt supported by our community. It made us feel at home.”