Chasing a Light in the Darkness A story of resilience in the face of unrelenting medical challenges

Shortly after her 61st birthday, Janet McDowell was diagnosed with lymphocytic leukemia, a type of leukemia that is very common and curable in young children, but not so much in older adults. Her journey towards recovery was bumpy, as on two separate occasions she faced nearly fatal situations. One year after her initial diagnosis, she received a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor, which caused rejection issues. Her unrelenting complications would have led many to give up, but Janet fought back with tenacity matching the seriousness of her illness. Despite the lack of research and statistics on lymphocytic leukemia in adults, Janet never let that slow her down on her road to recovery.
Prior to her diagnosis, Janet had lived most of her adult life by herself and was considered fiercely independent, which made asking for help difficult. Fortunately, she had her older sister, Susan, by her side as her caregiver through it all. "Chasing a Light in the Darkness: A story of resilience in the face of unrelenting medical challenges" shares Janet's story towards recovery, the ups and downs of her treatment, and how she managed to keep fighting despite facing so much adversity.

Janet McDowell is a dedicated philanthropist and avid world traveler based in Washington State. With a passion for animals, photography, and outdoor pursuits, Janet brings a spirit of curiosity and compassion to all her endeavors. She and her sister, Susan, share a home and serve as primary caregivers for their father, reflecting Janet's commitment to family and service. Her debut book, "Chasing a Light in the Darkness," was made possible through the invaluable guidance of her esteemed writing mentor, Ingrid Ricks, and the support of Brandi Thomas, whose encouragement helped foster Janet's relationship with Ingrid.