Leslie in Little Rock

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Thank You Letter To “Chasing Life”

Cancer Survivor & Support· Leslie's Movie & TV Reviews

Actors Scott Michael Foster and Italia Ricci
Leo & April of Chasing Life

A year ago, I wrote this blog entry about the ABC Family Drama “Chasing Life: http://leslieinlittlerock.blogspot.com/2014/07/tv-show-review-chasing-life-2014.html

And tonight I wrote the following blog entry:

An Open Letter to Chasing Life Cast and Crew – 

August 24, 2015

To: Patrick Sean Smith, Susanna Fogel, Joni Lefkowitz, Italia
Ricci, Scott Michael Foster and all the cast, writers, and production crew of Chasing Life

I want to thank all of you for the August 17, 2015 episode
of Chasing Life “As Long As We Both
Shall Live”. 
As a mother to two daughters, a 14 year cancer survivor, and a
widow, I’ve been a fan of your show since it first aired last summer. I absolutely
believe that your program consistently realistically portrays a young woman
trying to juggle all the demands of a career, love life, family and friends.
And then she receives a cancer diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
The first season covers her immediate reaction to her cancer diagnosis, continuing her work as a journalist at a Boston newspaper, attending cancer
support groups, and starting her treatment.

Fast forward a year, April has finished her treatment, went
into remission, quit her job, went out of remission, began writing a book, started
one clinical trial & had to withdraw due to health issues, and married Leo.

And a week ago tonight, at the end of the episode, Leo died.
After a night April planned to celebrate their “Non-Honeymoon” trip to Italy
due to her current health status, Leo went to sleep and never woke up.

This is where the Thank You comes in. Thank You all for
creating such a beautiful tribute to the love that April and Leo shared. It’s
also a tribute to Cancer Survivors and the fighters who do not make it. Chasing
Life is a very real representation of what so many of us go through and what it
takes to get us through the fight of our lives – strength, love, friends,
medical information, support, faith and hope.

During these past seven days, I’ve read on twitter and in
message boards that many viewers are very upset and distraught about Leo’s
death. “So pissed” “WTF”  “Lazy writing”
are just a few of the comments I’ve read about the show and this plot line.

I just want to say to these viewers that sometimes people
don’t make it. And instead of going off about a fictional character on a television program, channel your determination and effort into something that
matters. Sponsor a ‘Make A Wish’ child. Volunteer at a local hospital.
Participate in an event such as the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life or
the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.

I want to post this blog entry before tonight’s episode ends
in one minute, so I’ll wrap it up by just thanking everyone involved for
caring enough about cancer patients to air each and every episode of Chasing Life.

Leslie Smith Doan
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivor
Diagnosed November 7, 2000
Went into Remission May 17, 2001

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Comments

  1. Donna Volkenannt says

    Hi Leslie,
    What a great post!
    Thanks for letting me know about this program. Although I haven't seen "Chasing Life," you have sparked my interest. With your positive attitude and inspiring outlook on life, it's no wonder you are a survivor.

    Reply

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