Leukemia

SHARPSBURG - When 3-year-old Faith Warfield saw the big red suit and bushy white beard come around the corner, her eyes got as big as quarters. "It's Santa, mommy! It's Santa!" she said as she hopped into his lap. "And look at all these presents!" It was a show of enthusiasm some people might not have expected from a girl who was still mostly bald from a recent chemotherapy treatment. Warfield was diagnosed on July 25 with leukemia. Her parents, Chip and Tammy Warfield of Boonsboro, said the disease has changed their lives in a lot of ways.

Leukemia and lymphoma support John R. Marsh Cancer Center, in partnership with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, sponsors a support group for patients and families affected by blood cancer. Open to those affected by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, MDS or myeloma. Meetings held at John R. Marsh Cancer Center, Robinwood Medical Center, 11110 Medical Campus Road, Suite 129, Hagerstown. Call 301-665-4650. Sexaholics Anonymous Sexaholics Anonymous is a 12-step program of recovery for those who want to stop their sexually self-destructive thinking and behavior.

SMITHSBURG - While others were enjoying Smithsburg Pride Days recently, Mary McCleaf, 11, a junior Girl Scout with Troop 255, was hard at work. Mary set up a lemonade stand at Smithsburg's Veterans Park to raise money for a local child who is battling leukemia. All lemonade was sold by donation only and all proceeds were collected to benefit a 7-year-old girl with leukemia. Mary was working on ideas for completing her bronze award and decided on the idea to raise money for children, and then further decided on raising the money to help a young girl she knows.

GAPLAND - Susannah Willems is the picture of health. She has a full head of wavy blond hair and is, her mom says, at almost 4 feet, 8 inches, the tallest student in the third grade at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. "It's amazing. Thank God. If you look at her, you'd never know all she's been through," her mother Christina Willems said. Until a year and a half ago, Susannah was battling for her life. The enemy was the acute lymphoblast leukemia, diagnosed in 2001. The cancer attacked her bone marrow, leaving her unable to fight infection.

GAPLAND - Susannah Willems is the picture of health. She has a full head of wavy blonde hair and is, her mom says, at almost 4 feet, 8 inches, the tallest student in the third grade at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. "It's amazing. Thank God. If you look at her, you'd never know all she's been through," her mother Christina Willems said. Until a year-and-a-half ago, Susannah was battling for her life. The enemy was the acute lymphoblast leukemia diagnosed in 2001. The cancer attacked her bone marrow, leaving her unable to fight infection.