Bone marrow transplants saved Lauren Engleke-Smith’s two younger sons, however the mom’s bone marrow transplant wasn’t sufficient to cease the raging leukemia in her personal physique.
One bone marrow transplant is brutal for a household, however three appears untenable. But, Lauren radiated never-ending hope and religion till the very finish.
Lauren, 46, of Springfield, died Sept. 16 after three years with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive most cancers that assaults blood cells. Lauren’s remedy included a number of rounds of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and a trial drug. Lauren mentioned in her chapter of the e book, Embracing the Affect of Most cancers: Inspirational Tales of Hope, that she knew what to anticipate within the remedy. They’d been via it earlier than.
Lauren’s son, Gabriel, was born with a uncommon type of anemia that required a bone marrow transplant when he was 18 months previous.
Gabriel’s transplant in October 2013, in addition to Lauren’s in December 2021 and son Xavier’s in July 2023 required months of driving to St. Louis hospitals and lengthy stays on the Ronald McDonald Home earlier than and after the transplants.
Gabriel is 12 now and a seventh-grader at Ball-Chatham faculties. He has been in remission because the transplant and has no residual issues.
Lauren was hopeful that her restoration could be as easy as Gabriel’s, so she mentioned she did not fear in regards to the transplant. “Nevertheless, my staff didn’t inform me all the consequences of the transplant earlier than and after,” she wrote within the e book. Lauren suffered many issues: infections, rashes, complications, abdomen points and extra.
Lauren credited her husband, Aaron, a pc analyst for the state of Illinois, for supporting her and holding the household going. “He takes care of all of us,” she mentioned.
It doesn’t matter what, Lauren was decided to maintain working. Her household’s monetary well being relied on it. Six months earlier than her prognosis, the household purchased their dream home close to Lake Springfield. They had been so completely satisfied to be out of their first home in a Springfield neighborhood the place bikes had been stolen from the entrance porch and the boys had been bullied.
Lauren was lastly working as a particular schooling trainer, as she deliberate earlier than shifting to Springfield from Annapolis, Maryland. Lauren grew up close to Annapolis on a small farm the place her household raised kangaroos. Aaron was on the naval base once they met. In 2006, they determined to maneuver to Springfield to be nearer to Aaron’s household in southern Illinois.
Lauren graduated from Wesley School in Dover, Maryland, however wanted lessons to be licensed to show in Illinois. She earned a grasp’s diploma in schooling from College of Illinois Springfield and was licensed to be a college principal.
She taught particular schooling at Ball-Chatham and Springfield faculties. She additionally was an assistant principal in Beardstown. By fall 2021, she was getting chemotherapy and too sick to work, and he or she had the bone marrow transplant in December. She returned to work in Chatham in 2022 and in 2023 accepted a place instructing on the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Middle in Springfield. “That job was made for me,” she mentioned.
It lasted lower than two months. On Sept. 30, 2023, a pupil was shot and killed whereas trying to flee. The middle has been closed since then. Lauren labored as an alternative trainer for the rest of the varsity yr, even when in April, the leukemia returned, and Lauren began chemotherapy once more. Regardless of feeling dangerous, she continued to work till the tip of the varsity yr.
Her dedication did not go unnoticed. Kris White, whose grandson was one in all Lauren’s college students in Springfield, mentioned he graduated from faculty due to Lauren’s encouragement. White mentioned on Lauren’s obituary on the Dignity Memorial web site: “She was a shiny gentle, a heat candle, a caring particular person, and at all times on the lookout for the most effective in her college students.”
In July 2023, Lauren was at Barnes-Jewish Hospital for leukemia-related pneumonia when Aaron and their son, Xavier, 14, ready for Xavier’s bone marrow transplant throughout the road at St. Louis Kids’s Hospital.
Whereas Gabriel’ anemia was apparent when he was born, Xavier developed signs after the age of 10. Bone marrow is the frequent denominator between Lauren and the boys’ sicknesses, however every are completely different. Xavier’s life-threatening bone marrow failure was painful for Lauren to look at, particularly as a result of Xavier additionally struggled with dyslexia and different studying disabilities.
Lauren additionally apprehensive about how the household’s sicknesses affected her daughter, Ebby, who’s a freshman at UIS and desires to change into a veterinarian. Medical bills worn out any cash for faculty.
Regardless of the challenges, Lauren selected to stay busy, constructive and grateful. She posted updates on Fb day by day till early September when she may not see.
Lauren regarded for hope and God’s route. Within the e book, Lauren informed readers: “Whether or not it is aplastic anemia, bone marrow failure or leukemia like our household has handled or you might be simply having a foul day, promise me that you’ll keep constructive and search for God in each step.”
Theresa Olsen met Lauren just a few years earlier than her son, Gabriel, was born in 2012. Their friendship started at a Bible examine at Hope Church in Springfield.
Contributions to the Lauren Engelke-Smith Memorial for the schooling of her kids could also be directed to United Neighborhood Financial institution, 700 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, IL 62703.
