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She Perseveres
She perseveres with class despite it all
First stroke, then lymphoma, but she's stood tall
Her husband by her side offers support
It's been tough on them; she's been a good sport
One complication after another
Certainly was a difficult summer
Infections have been piling up for her
Bacterial and viral did occur
She conquered them all and she'll conquer more
As far as the future, who know what's in store
She'll continue to battle and survive
Without therapy she would not be alive
She's plugging away, appearing depressed
But deep down inside she knows she's been blessed
Not many with her problems live so long
She does not realize it but she's been strong
She's been unlucky to get the cancer
But for every issue we've had answers
Her sibling had matched and her joy was pure
Because of the match we offered a cure
The key's taking it one day at a time
If she keeps her hopes up she'll be just fine
AMIR STEINBERG, MD, FACP is Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology at Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, in the hematologic malignancies/stem cell transplantation group in the division of hematology-oncology/bone marrow transplantation. He notes that this poem, written in iambic pentameter, is based on interactions he has had with a lymphoma patient, inspired by her perseverance.