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Cari’s Blog

Cari’s Blog #19

L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to cancer survivorship by providing assistance to young adults who are fighting cancer and in financial need.

life@givetolife.org

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Jasmine Xiong – 2026 Survivor Grant Recipient August 3, 2026
2026 L.I.F.E. Survivor Grant Application is Now Open! March 20, 2026
Brandon White – 2025 Survivor Grant Recipient August 1, 2025
Hortonville Elementary Students Fundraise for L.I.F.E.! May 22, 2025

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Cancer took so much from Jasmine. It never took away her determination. ❤️

At just 25 years old, Jasmine Xiong was raising her infant son when she was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer.

While enduring chemotherapy and radiation, she refused to give up on her dream of becoming a nurse. Last year, while still in treatment, Jasmine graduated from nursing school.

Cancer didn't just affect Jasmine - it affected her entire family. While fighting her own diagnosis, she mourned the loss of her father to cancer and stood beside her brother through his own battle with the disease.

Today, Jasmine is in remission and caring for pediatric patients—the very kind of compassion she once received herself.

This past week, we had the privilege of surprising Jasmine and her family with a L.I.F.E. Survivorship Grant to help ease the financial burden cancer leaves behind.

Stories like Jasmine's are why L.I.F.E. exists. Your generosity makes these grants possible and gives young adult cancer survivors hope when they need it most.If Jasmine's story touched your heart, we hope you'll consider helping us support the next young adult facing cancer. Every dollar donated goes toward changing lives.

Read Jasmine's full story and help us fund future survivor grants here:
https://givetolife.org/jasmine-xiong-2026-survivor-grant-recipient/

To make a donation that will directly help future recipients, please visit:
https://givetolife.org/donate/

❤️ Thank you for making moments like this possible.

#CancerSurvivor #YoungAdultCancer #CancerSupport #GivingBack #Nonprofit #CommunityStrong #NurseLife #Wisconsin #LIFESurvivorshipGrant

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Cancer took so much from Jasmine. It never took away her determination. ❤️ At just 25 years old, Jasmine Xiong was raising her infant son when she was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. While enduring chemotherapy and radiation, she refused to give up on her dream of becoming a nurse. Last year, while still in treatment, Jasmine graduated from nursing school. Cancer didn't just affect Jasmine - it affected her entire family. While fighting her own diagnosis, she mourned the loss of her father to cancer and stood beside her brother through his own battle with the disease. Today, Jasmine is in remission and caring for pediatric patients—the very kind of compassion she once received herself. This past week, we had the privilege of surprising Jasmine and her family with a L.I.F.E. Survivorship Grant to help ease the financial burden cancer leaves behind. Stories like Jasmine's are why L.I.F.E. exists. Your generosity makes these grants possible and gives young adult cancer survivors hope when they need it most.If Jasmine's story touched your heart, we hope you'll consider helping us support the next young adult facing cancer. Every dollar donated goes toward changing lives. Read Jasmine's full story and help us fund future survivor grants here: https://givetolife.org/jasmine-xiong-2026-survivor-grant-recipient/ To make a donation that will directly help future recipients, please visit: https://givetolife.org/donate/ ❤️ Thank you for making moments like this possible. #CancerSurvivor #YoungAdultCancer #CancerSupport #GivingBack #Nonprofit #CommunityStrong #NurseLife #Wisconsin #LIFESurvivorshipGrant

3 weeks ago

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1/9

Brandon White is a hard-working 28-year-old man from New London, Wisconsin. While he is driving forklifts as the sole provider for his family, his wife is busy at home taking care of their two boys, ages 1 and 3. This past year, Brandon was unfortunately diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). He was identified by a social worker as someone that meets the criteria for a Survivor Grant.

Treatment has been very exhausting, and it is difficult for him to move around without a lot of fatigue. As Brandon told us, “Getting up just to go to the bathroom feels like running a full mile”. They live approximately 4 hours roundtrip from their Cancer Center and require local lodging, meals, and gas for his chemotherapy cycles and additional clinic visits. Social Security Disability has been slow to start, and won’t kick in until next month because of the standard 5-month-long waiting period. Unfortunately, because he has been employed for less than 1 year, he has no FMLA benefits either.

Today we visited Brandon at his home, met him and his family, and let them know that they were chosen as the first recipient of this year’s round of Survivorship Grants. Thanks to the money raised this past year from Hortonville Elementary and other donors, we were able to provide him with a substantial amount of financial assistance. We also arranged for a lawncare service that will come each week to neatly trim their lawn, as that has been a burden for them as well.

Brandon, it was a pleasure meeting you, your wife, and your children. We will be following up on you, and hope this helps relieve some stress and aid in your recovery!

https://givetolife.org/brandon-white-2025-survivor-grant-recipient/

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Brandon White is a hard-working 28-year-old man from New London, Wisconsin. While he is driving forklifts as the sole provider for his family, his wife is busy at home taking care of their two boys, ages 1 and 3. This past year, Brandon was unfortunately diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). He was identified by a social worker as someone that meets the criteria for a Survivor Grant. Treatment has been very exhausting, and it is difficult for him to move around without a lot of fatigue. As Brandon told us, “Getting up just to go to the bathroom feels like running a full mile”. They live approximately 4 hours roundtrip from their Cancer Center and require local lodging, meals, and gas for his chemotherapy cycles and additional clinic visits. Social Security Disability has been slow to start, and won’t kick in until next month because of the standard 5-month-long waiting period. Unfortunately, because he has been employed for less than 1 year, he has no FMLA benefits either. Today we visited Brandon at his home, met him and his family, and let them know that they were chosen as the first recipient of this year’s round of Survivorship Grants. Thanks to the money raised this past year from Hortonville Elementary and other donors, we were able to provide him with a substantial amount of financial assistance. We also arranged for a lawncare service that will come each week to neatly trim their lawn, as that has been a burden for them as well. Brandon, it was a pleasure meeting you, your wife, and your children. We will be following up on you, and hope this helps relieve some stress and aid in your recovery! https://givetolife.org/brandon-white-2025-survivor-grant-recipient/

1 year ago

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2/9

On Thursday May 22, 2025, the students at Hortonville Elementary School came together during their “DAY OF AWESOMENESS” to present us with a check for $5,000.00! They accomplished this through Game On!, which is a fitness-based fundraiser designed to promote teamwork, physical activity, and healthy living all while raising funds for school improvements, equipment, and supplies, and important causes such as ours. This is actually the 2nd time that Hortonville Elementary has chosen L.I.F.E. as their local non-profit organization after they donated to us back in 2023.

Thank you to all of the students and their parents, as well as the physical education teachers at Hortonville Elementary and Hortonville Middle School – Patti Blum and Terressa Leinon.

Check back soon on our website and social media to see how the funds from their hard work will be used this year!

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On Thursday May 22, 2025, the students at Hortonville Elementary School came together during their “DAY OF AWESOMENESS” to present us with a check for $5,000.00! They accomplished this through Game On!, which is a fitness-based fundraiser designed to promote teamwork, physical activity, and healthy living all while raising funds for school improvements, equipment, and supplies, and important causes such as ours. This is actually the 2nd time that Hortonville Elementary has chosen L.I.F.E. as their local non-profit organization after they donated to us back in 2023. Thank you to all of the students and their parents, as well as the physical education teachers at Hortonville Elementary and Hortonville Middle School – Patti Blum and Terressa Leinon. Check back soon on our website and social media to see how the funds from their hard work will be used this year!

1 year ago

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3/9

Elise McCarter, a 30-year-old from Carol Stream, IL, is currently in a fight against Esthesioneuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the upper part of the nasal cavity. Elise has had to stop working as a result of her treatment and has no income currently. Thanks to the referral from her social worker at Northwestern Medicine, L.I.F.E. was able to step in to help her with bills and expenses that she has been struggling to cover.

After being selected as a Survivor Grant recipient this summer, she wrote us the following message:

“I have successfully finished treatment and had my first scans posttreatment and I am so happy to declare I’m officially in remission!!! Receiving my cancer diagnosis has had a significant impact on not just my life but the lives of my family and loved ones. I am a certified art therapist and love my job and its impact on my clients. Although I tried greatly to continue working during treatment my body had other ideas and I needed to take an extended medical leave. My parents who live out of state moved in with me for a couple of months during my treatment and recovery, which was extremely helpful since I don’t believe I could have got by without their love and support. While I was on medical leave the bills kept stacking up, due to the generous grant I received from L.I.F.E. I was able to reduce my debt which had an impact on reducing my stress. I can not thank L.I.F.E. enough, when you receive a cancer diagnosis it is extremely stressful and terrifying and it is easy to become depressed or feel alone in the journey, L.I.F.E. showed me that I am not alone and even people I never met were in my cheering corner.”

Keep us posted on your progress Elise, you are definitely not alone!! Stay strong!!!

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Elise McCarter, a 30-year-old from Carol Stream, IL, is currently in a fight against Esthesioneuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the upper part of the nasal cavity. Elise has had to stop working as a result of her treatment and has no income currently. Thanks to the referral from her social worker at Northwestern Medicine, L.I.F.E. was able to step in to help her with bills and expenses that she has been struggling to cover. After being selected as a Survivor Grant recipient this summer, she wrote us the following message: “I have successfully finished treatment and had my first scans posttreatment and I am so happy to declare I’m officially in remission!!! Receiving my cancer diagnosis has had a significant impact on not just my life but the lives of my family and loved ones. I am a certified art therapist and love my job and its impact on my clients. Although I tried greatly to continue working during treatment my body had other ideas and I needed to take an extended medical leave. My parents who live out of state moved in with me for a couple of months during my treatment and recovery, which was extremely helpful since I don’t believe I could have got by without their love and support. While I was on medical leave the bills kept stacking up, due to the generous grant I received from L.I.F.E. I was able to reduce my debt which had an impact on reducing my stress. I can not thank L.I.F.E. enough, when you receive a cancer diagnosis it is extremely stressful and terrifying and it is easy to become depressed or feel alone in the journey, L.I.F.E. showed me that I am not alone and even people I never met were in my cheering corner.” Keep us posted on your progress Elise, you are definitely not alone!! Stay strong!!!

2 years ago

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4/9

Can we get a round of applause for Matt today!! 👏👏👏 Remarkable guy.
In his words, “What a humbling experience. It as been a wild last couple of weeks from the time I got the phone call saying I was a match with a complete stranger, taking meds that can cause an insane amount of pain and to donating PBSC ( peripheral blood stem cells) to someone in need! To explain it in a nutshell, the medication gave me 10/10 the worst pain I’ve ever had the past few days. But 10/10 would recommend it to anyone and I would absolutely do it all over again in a heartbeat! The pain is temporary, giving someone a second chance at life is everything!

Get out and get swabbed! Find out if you’re a match!”

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Can we get a round of applause for Matt today!! 👏👏👏 Remarkable guy. In his words, “What a humbling experience. It as been a wild last couple of weeks from the time I got the phone call saying I was a match with a complete stranger, taking meds that can cause an insane amount of pain and to donating PBSC ( peripheral blood stem cells) to someone in need! To explain it in a nutshell, the medication gave me 10/10 the worst pain I’ve ever had the past few days. But 10/10 would recommend it to anyone and I would absolutely do it all over again in a heartbeat! The pain is temporary, giving someone a second chance at life is everything! Get out and get swabbed! Find out if you’re a match!”

3 years ago

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5/9

Less than one week out from donation day!! Matt is currently taking injections of a medication that boosts his blood cell counts to increase the chances they’ll harvest enough cells during Round I. Like steroids for his bone marrow! Go Matt Go! 🧡🩸 #lifesaver #bethematch #bmt #bonemarrowtransplant

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Less than one week out from donation day!! Matt is currently taking injections of a medication that boosts his blood cell counts to increase the chances they’ll harvest enough cells during Round I. Like steroids for his bone marrow! Go Matt Go! 🧡🩸 #lifesaver #bethematch #bmt #bonemarrowtransplant

3 years ago

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6/9

Everyone who followed Eric McLean knows one of his missions was to grow the Be the Match Bone Marrow Registry list as long as possible. As the recipient of an anonymous donor, as his final transplant, Eric understood the importance of this list. Without selfless living donors willing to dedicate their time and cells to complete strangers who do not have a sibling donor match, those patients would not have a chance of survival. LIFE formed a team. A few names on our own list of able & willing donors have been contacted to save a life. Introduce, Matt Chada. Matt is a longtime LIFE supporter. He signed up with Be the Match in 2012 at a LIFE Foundation blood drive and recently received a call that he is someone’s lifesaving match. Three cheers for Matt as he goes through this process and we follow along! Send us a DM if you are interested in signing up or have any inquires regarding bone marrow/stem cell donation. Our board of directors includes 2 donors ready and willing to answer any and all questions you may have. WAY TO GO, MATT!
Photo from LIFE archives 📸: Matt donating platelets at a 2015 blood drive!

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Everyone who followed Eric McLean knows one of his missions was to grow the Be the Match Bone Marrow Registry list as long as possible. As the recipient of an anonymous donor, as his final transplant, Eric understood the importance of this list. Without selfless living donors willing to dedicate their time and cells to complete strangers who do not have a sibling donor match, those patients would not have a chance of survival. LIFE formed a team. A few names on our own list of able & willing donors have been contacted to save a life. Introduce, Matt Chada. Matt is a longtime LIFE supporter. He signed up with Be the Match in 2012 at a LIFE Foundation blood drive and recently received a call that he is someone’s lifesaving match. Three cheers for Matt as he goes through this process and we follow along! Send us a DM if you are interested in signing up or have any inquires regarding bone marrow/stem cell donation. Our board of directors includes 2 donors ready and willing to answer any and all questions you may have. WAY TO GO, MATT! Photo from LIFE archives 📸: Matt donating platelets at a 2015 blood drive!

3 years ago

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7/9

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from everyone here at L.I.F.E.! We hope you are having a wonderful and safe weekend with the people you love. Thank you to everyone who has helped us out this past year, because of you we were able to help 9 young adults with cancer across the nation in 2023 with our Survivor Grant. Check out their stories here! https://givetolife.org/survivor-grant/recipients

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Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from everyone here at L.I.F.E.! We hope you are having a wonderful and safe weekend with the people you love. Thank you to everyone who has helped us out this past year, because of you we were able to help 9 young adults with cancer across the nation in 2023 with our Survivor Grant. Check out their stories here! https://givetolife.org/survivor-grant/recipients

3 years ago

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8/9

It's time we finally start announcing this year's L.I.F.E. Survivor Grant recipients. Meet 25-year-old Sergeant Ian Schisel, a 6-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps from Manitowoc, WI. Ian is also a husband, and father to their 1-year-old son.

As a Marine, Ian was a bulk JP-8 fuel specialist, and at the end of his commitment this past year, was diagnosed with B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
He is currently in remission, and in the middle of what is known as “delayed intensification”. This month, he will begin a maintenance phase of chemotherapy that will last for up to another 2 years. Unfortunately, Ian’s cancer has kept him out of work, and he has not received a paycheck in over 6 months.

With the help of our donors and fundraisers, we were able to send Ian and his family some money to help them with medical and daily expenses, along with the classic L.I.F.E. t-shirt and wristband. A sincere thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen.

When we spoke with him over the phone in early July, we randomly started talking about music, and he mentioned to us that his favorite band was Ghost, a grammy award-winning Swedish heavy metal band. Checking the concert calendar, we saw they would be touring in his home state on August 12th. We made some calls and sent some messages to 102.9 The HOG, the local radio station sponsoring the show, in Milwaukee. They responded in kind with 2 free PIT tickets, right up front and center, for both Ian and his wife to attend!! We hope you enjoyed the show, Ian!

More stories of 2023 Survivor Grant Recipients will be announced very soon.

https://givetolife.org/2023-survivor-grant-recipient-sergeant-ian-schisel/

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It's time we finally start announcing this year's L.I.F.E. Survivor Grant recipients. Meet 25-year-old Sergeant Ian Schisel, a 6-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps from Manitowoc, WI. Ian is also a husband, and father to their 1-year-old son. As a Marine, Ian was a bulk JP-8 fuel specialist, and at the end of his commitment this past year, was diagnosed with B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He is currently in remission, and in the middle of what is known as “delayed intensification”. This month, he will begin a maintenance phase of chemotherapy that will last for up to another 2 years. Unfortunately, Ian’s cancer has kept him out of work, and he has not received a paycheck in over 6 months. With the help of our donors and fundraisers, we were able to send Ian and his family some money to help them with medical and daily expenses, along with the classic L.I.F.E. t-shirt and wristband. A sincere thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen. When we spoke with him over the phone in early July, we randomly started talking about music, and he mentioned to us that his favorite band was Ghost, a grammy award-winning Swedish heavy metal band. Checking the concert calendar, we saw they would be touring in his home state on August 12th. We made some calls and sent some messages to 102.9 The HOG, the local radio station sponsoring the show, in Milwaukee. They responded in kind with 2 free PIT tickets, right up front and center, for both Ian and his wife to attend!! We hope you enjoyed the show, Ian! More stories of 2023 Survivor Grant Recipients will be announced very soon. https://givetolife.org/2023-survivor-grant-recipient-sergeant-ian-schisel/

3 years ago

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9/9

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