Fort Mill, South Carolina
In September 2010, Justine was a healthy 12-year-old girl, going to Kung Fu practice. Suddenly, she developed back and head pain, and her health deteriorated quickly. Within two days of being admitted to Atrium Health's Levine Children’s, Justine was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (A.L.L.), a blood cancer that affects bone marrow, blood and the lymphatic system. The aggressive nature of the cancer required an equally aggressive course of treatment.
From September 2010 to January 2012, Justine received over 200 doses of chemotherapy, 55 blood and platelet transfusions, 6 bone marrow aspirations and 20 lumbar punctures.
She lost her hair twice, and has endured steroid-induced diabetes, blood clots, allergic reactions to blood and platelets, and osteonecrosis (bone death) in all of her weight bearing joints.
Justine continues to do Kung Fu and also loves swimming. She was been part of her local swim team for years, and even swam in three meets and served as a junior swim coach while undergoing chemotherapy.
