Honored Hero for North Texas 2004 Leukemia Cup Regatta
Robert Frank, Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia Survivor

My story...In May of 1993 I had an enlarged lymph node removed from my neck, it was malignant. After much testing which included bone biopsies, cat scans, and MRI's it was determined that I had Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia "CLL" and that it had spread to other parts of my body. My initial Oncologist was with Texas Oncology of Dallas and he recommended a Chemo therapy referred to as "CHOP". He told me that my life expectancy was 3 to 5 years. On advice from friends I sought a second opinion from a former M D Anderson doctor who had moved to Arlington. This Doctor confirmed the diagnosis and said that the life expectancy was correct but he would like to refer me to M D Anderson.

I met with Dr. Emil Freireich, a Professor and Head of Developmental Therapeutics. He confirmed everything but said "you are young to have this disease and I would like to try something other than "CHOP" as your chemotherapy". From July 1993 to February 1994 I had a series of 6 weekly Chemo protocols of 'FLUDARABINE". In May of 1994 I was pronounced in "solid remission" followed by a bone marrow harvest in June of 1994 for when a bone marrow transplant became necessary. It was always "when" you come out of remission. About 5 years ago Dr. Freireich started calling me his "Miracle Man" and started saying "if" I come out of remission. Last June at my annual check-up I asked him why he called me his miracle man. He said from the summer of 1993 to the summer of 1994 that he treated roughly 200 people with Fludarabine and that I was the only one alive today! I am a miracle...

As a final note my doctor has said that through research and development Fludarabine has been greatly enhanced and that if I did come out of remission that a bone marrow transplant would be unnecessary as he is confident that the new drug would be successful. I was fortunate to have the support and prayers of many family and friends as well as a caring medical community. As a result I am alive today. I love sunrises and sunsets. I have been able to watch my children graduate from college and get married. I have served on the board of the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for six years as well as the outreach board of my church and hope in some small way to have made a difference.

Robert Frank