After an Acute Leukemia Diagnosis, She Finds Her Way Back to ’Joyful’ Life

For Leila Suyapa Macy, feeling sick began with symptoms that were difficult to ignore. Her legs hurt considerably. She was vomiting frequently. Even the smell of food became difficult to tolerate.

The symptoms persisted for about two months and eventually led to a diagnosis that would change her life: a specific type of acute leukemia — group of blood cancers that start in the bone marrow and cause the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells.

Diagnosed in March 2025, Ms. Macy turned to Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute for treatment. After a year away from work and several months of cancer care, the longtime South Florida resident says her recovery is going “excellent.”

And she returned to work earlier this year, marking an important milestone after an unexpected medical journey.

Two Months of Feeling Unwell

Born in Progreso Yoro, Honduras 57 years ago, Ms. Macy has lived in South Florida for 38 years and currently lives in Miami with her husband, daughter and son, along with the family’s dogs, Mickey and Loki.

She describes herself as “very joyful” and says she shares that joy with everyone around her. Before her illness, Ms. Macy describes her general health as normal. Then she began experiencing persistent symptoms that affected how she felt and her ability to eat.

“I felt unwell and my legs hurt a lot,” she recalled. “I vomited a lot, and I couldn't stand the smell of food for two months.”

Testing ultimately revealed “Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” or Ph-positive B-ALL. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In Ph-positive ALL, leukemia cells carry an abnormal gene called BCR::ABL1 that produces a protein that promotes the growth of cancer cells.

“Ph-positive ALL has historically been regarded as a higher-risk subtype because of its potential to relapse,” explains Firas El Chaer, M.D., hematologist-oncologist and the chief of Leukemia and medical director of Infusion Services at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute. “However, risk is now assessed dynamically, with the depth and speed of response to treatment carrying significant weight.”

Patient Leila Macy and Firas El Chaer, M.D., hematologist-oncologist and the chief of Leukemia and medical director of Infusion Services at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute.

Targeting Ms. Macy's Leukemia

Ms. Macy remembers her first impression of Dr. El Chaer simply: “I thought he was very kind.”

Her treatment included oral medications and intravenous infusions. The pills, however, were not conventional chemotherapy. They were targeted therapies — medications designed to interfere with specific changes that help cancer cells survive and grow.

Ms. Macy received several targeted drugs during the course of treatment, including imatinib, dasatinib and later ponatinib. These medications target the abnormal BCR::ABL1 protein driving her leukemia.

She also received blinatumomab, an immunotherapy administered by continuous intravenous infusion. The medication helps the body's immune system identify and attack leukemia cells.

“Combining these approaches attacks the leukemia through complementary mechanisms and can provide an effective alternative to highly intensive conventional chemotherapy in selected patients with Ph-positive ALL,” Dr. El Chaer says.

Treatment required adjustments along the way. Ms. Macy experienced complications and side effects that included significant pain and gastrointestinal problems. During her first blinatumomab infusion, she developed chills, facial flushing, heart palpitations and pain in both legs. The infusion was temporarily stopped, medication was given to control the reaction, and treatment was safely resumed after her symptoms resolved.

Later gastrointestinal complications required additional treatment and ultimately led her care team to discontinue dasatinib and switch her to ponatinib.

Tests Show a Deep Remission

Throughout leukemia treatment, physicians use blood tests, bone-marrow examinations and increasingly sensitive molecular tests to determine whether cancer cells remain.

For Ms. Macy, those tests have provided encouraging results.

Her bone-marrow biopsy showed normal blood-cell production without an excess of immature leukemia cells, known as blasts. Specialized testing also found no measurable residual disease, or MRD — tiny numbers of cancer cells that can remain after treatment but may be too few to detect with conventional testing.

The BCR::ABL1 molecular marker associated with Ms. Macy's leukemia was also no longer detectable.

“Ms. Macy achieved complete molecular and measurable residual disease-negative remission, which is a highly favorable response,” Dr. El Chaer says.

Subsequent blood and bone-marrow testing has continued to show no detectable residual leukemia. While these findings indicate remission, Dr. El Chaer emphasizes that ongoing monitoring remains important because remission does not guarantee that leukemia can never return.

Returning to Everyday Life

Cancer treatment dramatically changed Ms. Macy's routine, including keeping her away from work for about a year. Now, she says she has resumed her normal daily activities. “After a year of not working, I returned to work in February,” she said.

Dr. El Chaer says there is no indication that Ms. Macy requires permanent physical restrictions as long as her blood counts remain stable, although a gradual return to work can help patients experiencing fatigue, reduced stamina or medication-related symptoms.

“Provided her blood counts remain stable, there is no indication in the record that Leila requires permanent restrictions,” explains Dr. El Chaer. “A gradual return may nevertheless be helpful, particularly if she continues to experience fatigue, reduced stamina or medication-related symptoms. Flexible hours, regular rest periods, time for appointments and the option to work remotely when unwell may ease the transition.”

Regular follow-up also remains part of Ms. Macy's life. She currently sees her care team approximately every four to six weeks.

Doctors will continue checking her blood counts and using sensitive molecular tests to look for signs of leukemia. Because Ms. Macy remains on ponatinib, her team also monitors her blood pressure, liver and pancreas function and watches for potential vascular and other complications associated with the medication.

Looking Ahead After Leukemia

As she moves forward, Ms. Macy is encouraged to gradually rebuild her stamina through activities such as walking and strength training while maintaining a balanced diet and staying current with routine medical care.

“There is no special diet proven to prevent leukemia from returning,” Dr. El Chaer says. “A balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and adequate protein can support recovery, while good hydration and limiting highly processed foods are sensible general measures.”

For Ms. Macy, returning to work represents a tangible sign of how far she has come since March 2025 — from persistent symptoms and an unexpected leukemia diagnosis to treatment and remission.

She also looks back positively on the care she received. “It was excellent, and they took very good care of me,” Ms. Macy said.

Asked whether she would recommend the cancer institute to family members or friends, her answer was unequivocal.

“Of course, yes, because their care is excellent and everyone is very professional.”