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The News-Times
September 18, 2007
When Teicholz was diagnosed with leukemia last December, her doctor warned her that finding a match for a bone marrow transplant is difficult. He said in many cases even family members are unwilling to undergo the process.
Teicholz, who's the youngest of three sisters, had high hopes. "I just knew they would do it," she said. "My sisters are always there for me."
Gallogly, a social worker in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., was a perfect match and never hesitated.
Teicholz was diagnosed with leukemia after an exhausting election season helping Greg Seabury run for the state legislature against Joe Taborsak.
"I was all bruised up. I was tired. We didn't know what was going on," said Teicholz, 46. Her foot kept swelling, and after a number of tests the diagnosis came back. She needed a transplant.
"It's been a hard year," said Lee Teicholz, Mary's husband. "I had to be there for her."
Teicholz said her doctors tell her she is in remission from leukemia, but she believes she's finished with the disease.
She spent nearly five weeks in isolation, because in the course of chemotherapy treatment her immune system was destroyed. She also lost her hair, and after the transplant, her blood type changed from B positive to A positive, her sister's type. She figures she now is allergic to everything her sister was allergic to.
Teicholz is now helping the National Marrow Donor Program with a bone marrow donor drive Sept. 29 at Danbury City Hall. The process of registering is painless. It involves taking a cheek swab from those willing to serve as a donor to any patient in need.
The national marrow donor program reports that every day 6,000 people with leukemia, lymphoma or other diseases are looking for a marrow donor.
Potential donors of all races and ethnicity are needed. They must be between the ages of 18 and 60, meet health guidelines, and fill out a form.
Teicholz said there are plenty of people who need transplants who don't find a match in their family.
Today, nine months after her successful bone marrow transplant, Teicholz can't tell her sister how much that meant to her.
"I cry every time I talk to her," she said.
The News-Times
by John Pirro
June 12, 2011
DANBURY -- Mary Teicholz doesn't considered herself a hero.
But the state chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has named Teicholz an "Honored Hero" and she may inspire the society's team at the Fairfield Half-Marathon and 5K walk and road race on June 26 at Penfield Beach in Fairfield, said Amanda Torres, campaign coordinator for the
event.
She said the title is more appropriately bestowed on the medical professionals who treated her for leukemia four years ago, and for the dedicated volunteers who help raise money for research.
"They are doing this for us," Teicholz said. "I think they are the honored heroes. If it wasn't for them, a lot of us wouldn't be here."
The four-term Danbury City Council member said she is alive today because of the strides made in treating leukemia and other blood disorders.
Teicholz was diagnosed with leukemia and a secondary blood disease in December 2006, and after a month of chemotherapy at Danbury Hospital, she underwent a bone-marrow transplant in Boston the next March. Her sister was the donor.
"The doctors told me that if I had been diagnosed four years earlier, I might not have survived," she said.
Today her disease is in remission, and she has become an advocate for marrow transplants, addressing a variety of community groups to encourage them to be screened as possible donors.
"I know what it was like for me," Teicholz said, so when she received an informational mailing from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during her recovery, asking if she would be interested in speaking publicly about her experiences, it was an easy choice to make.
Teicholz has talked to young people and senior citizens, and even though those over the age of 60 aren't eligible to donate bone marrow, they were sufficiently moved to pass the hat to make a monetary donation for research.
Although she still lacks the stamina she had before her illness, Teicholz has resumed her City Council duties.
Three years ago, she and her husband, Lee, a retired Danbury police officer, founded the annual Walk of Honor in the city, which recognizes the sacrifices made by those serving in the military, past and present. The event took on extra meaning when their 20-year-old son enlisted in the National Guard.
Teicholz said she's eager to talk to any groups interested in the donor program and can be reached at 203-748-0723.
The Newtown Bee
by Shannon Hicks
September 30, 2011
Following an overcast, extremely muggy day, a sunset that streaked the sky with oranges and reds greeted the estimated 400 people who participated in the 2011 Fairfield County Light The Night Walk. Held at Fairfield Hills last Saturday afternoon and early evening, the event was highlighted by speeches by a pair of cancer survivors, two miles of walking to honor blood cancer patients past and present, and the sunset that happened just as the formal part of the event began. The beautiful early autumn sunset was a surprising sight, a strong contrast to the dreary sky and heavy air that had permeated the area for most of the day.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Executive Director Jean Montano, who was standing on the temporary stage in the lawn in front of Newtown Youth Academy, was privy to the beautiful sight while speaking. She interrupted her brief speech to make sure everyone else enjoyed the view.
“I want everyone to turn around and just look at that sky,” Ms Montano said during her welcome remarks. “That is an inspirational sight.
“It’s special people like you,” she continued, “who are going to help us find cure and continue the two-part LLS mission: continued research, and taking care of patients with these diseases. There is cutting-edge research being done right now. It is a very exciting time to be involved.”
The September 24 event was the formal culmination of months of fundraising by at least 28 teams across Fairfield County. “About $34,000 was raised prior” to Saturday’s event, according to LLS Campaign Coordinator Kristen Angell, “and about $9,000 was handed in Saturday night.
“While we didn’t hit the $50,000 mark on Saturday, money continues to come in and be counted, and will continue arriving for a couple more weeks,” Ms Angell continued. “It is projected we will definitely be hitting that mark, it’s just a matter of when.”
LLS’s mission is to cure those diseases, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Fundraising by those who participating in last weekend’s event can continue, Ms Angell said, until January 31, 2012.
Saturday’s event, however, was about much more than the money that had been raised. The evening was, for many, an opportunity to remember and honor those who have lost their fight against blood cancers, or to stand with those who are currently battling or have successfully battled any form of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma.
For an hour, team members arrived at Fairfield Hills and visited booths that had been set up by Sandy Hook Hair Co., Newtown Deli & Catering, The One-Eyed Pig and others, enjoying services and some refreshments. Those who had done fundraising to certain levels received LLS T-shirts, balloons to carry later in the night, and even wristbands that allowed them to dine free of charge.
There was also music thanks to Mr Morning and 105.5 FM, face painters, a bounce house, sand art, TEAM Banner decorating, and a Patient Services tent with information about all the programs and services LLS offers to patients and their families free of charge. Newtown High School teacher Jay Edwards returned to emcee the event.
As the sun set, there were brief remarks shared by LLS staff members and then two brief but personal speeches by cancer survivors.
“More patients than ever are in need of financial support,” LLS Patient Services Manager Phyllis Osterman told the crowd. “Each and every one of you is responsible for helping to find the cures.”
Newtown High School sophomore Zach Pollock was the first Honored Hero Saturday night. Now 14 and cancer-free, Zach was diagnosed with high risk T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, when he was in fourth grade. He spoke frankly of his treatment, which was “long and painful,” calling the times he was stuck in his home in isolation “boring.”
Zach’s treatment included intensive chemotherapy along with cranial radiation. In January 2009, he completed a very aggressive chemotherapy protocol that took 40 months to finish.
“Losing my hair was kind of cool,” he said, “but the stares from strangers were not.”
Mary Teicholz of Danbury was equally brief with her remarks. She gave a quick overview of a very challenging period began when she was diagnosed in December 2006 with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), coupled with mylodysplastic syndrome. By the following month she was in the hospital, receiving chemotherapy “24/7, for an entire week,” she said.
Ms Teicholz also needed a bone marrow transplant and was fortunate in that her sister was a match.
“March 1, 2007, the day I received my transplant, that is the day I consider my second birthday,” she said, even though the transplant was followed by 100 days in the hospital, in isolation. “Imagine going through the scariest point of your life without any human contact, not even a hug.”
Now cancer-free, Ms Teicholz said she is committed to making sure more people survive leukemia.
“I was introduced to someone recently and when he was told I was a leukemia survivor, his response was ‘People survive that?!'” she said. “We need to get the message out. You can survive leukemia.”
The Walk itself followed the remarks, with teams invited to line up in front of NYA and then, following a countdown, walking the track that had been designated by LLS staff. Holding their balloons – helium-filled balloons with small battery-powered lights inside them – this was the time that everyone had been waiting for. White balloons represent survivors and current patients, red balloons symbolize LLS supporters, and gold balloons are carried to memorialize those who have died.
A quick gathering back at the stage followed the walk, which is encouraged to be done at a casual pace. Ms Angell offered thanks to this year’s participants, and encouraged them to continue to honor those who are fighting as well as those who have been lost to blood cancers.
“Thank you everyone,” she said. “We’ll see you next year!”
The 2011 Fairfield County Light the Night Walk was the third annual one held in Newtown.
In 2009 the event was held at Newtown High School. Organized by Colette Ercole, Ginny Chion and Gregg Simon, the walk was to have been held outdoors but was moved into the school’s spacious gymnasium due to inclement weather.
Last year the walk moved to Newtown Youth Academy, with Mrs Ercole and Mrs Chion again working with the Connecticut chapter of LLS to organize the walk at its new location. Between 350 and 400 walkers participated, and raised a reported $39,000. Participants in Light The Night Walks across the country last year raised more than $39 million.