Being a full-time student can be a challenge for anyone, but for Lori King, it was not her most difficult challenge in life.
King, an English freshman, was diagnosed Sept. 14, 2000 with acute myeloid leukemia.
Acute myeloid leukemia is a blood cancer that involves the uncontrolled reproduction of immature white blood cells, called blasts, according to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. These immature cells crowd the bone marrow and prevent the production of normal blood cells.
“It’s a very traumatic cancer,” King said.
King is originally from Baton Rouge, but her family lives in Memphis, Tenn. She said her leukemia came upon her very quickly during her senior year of high school.
King was involved in competitive karate, and in July of 2000 she earned a spot on the U.S. Pan American karate team. After a practice one day, King noticed she was extremely weak.  She began to get worried when she could barely carry herself and her bag to her car.
King continued in school and karate, but each day she grew more fatigued, lost weight and had trouble getting through a school day.  When she went to the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with leukemia and immediately sent her to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
“I was fourth ranked on the Pan American team, and the next moment I was in the hospital fighting for my life,” King said.
Lori began chemotherapy treatments right away because doctors said she could die if she did not receive immediate treatment. After the first treatment, doctors tested and found no trace of cancer, but they completed four more chemotherapy treatments as a precaution.
Lori was in remission after just one chemo treatment, and doctors said her rapid healing was very rare. She did not have a bone marrow transplant either, which is a common treatment among leukemia patients.
But after tackling leukemia, Lori was facing yet another challenge: college.
“Coming to LSU was very scary at first,” King said.
Lori’s first challenge was regaining her strength. Doctors said it would take about a year before her blood levels and strength would be normal.
King said she was pampered for a long time while she was sick, then had to move out and be on her own. She realized she needed to take care of herself. Lori makes sure she eats regularly and gets blood work done every one or two months at the Student Health Center.
“I had to pay very close attention to what my body was telling me,” she said. “Now that I’ve been sick, when I get tired I don’t go out or push myself as much.”
Julie Hupperich, assistant director of Wellness Education, said although the Student Health Center does not have any organized group specific for cancer patients, the services the center offers are available to all students.
“Patients can get emotional support through the Wellness Center, see registered dieticians and get help managing the symptoms of cancer treatment,” Hupperich said.
According to her friends, King had no problems getting involved on campus. Jessica Gautreau, a microbiology junior, is the president of Zeta Tau Alpha, King’s sorority. She says Lori is outgoing and dedicated to her campus activities.
“I haven’t seen her limited in any capacity at all,” Gautreau said.
Lizzie Peyroux, a general business junior, said Lori is incredibly positive, and she really appreciates life.
“She realizes that what she’s gone through has made her a better person,” Peyroux said.
Lori attributes her remission and recovery to her faith.
“The whole time I was sick, I was never afraid of dying because I knew that Jesus would take care of me,” she said.
Lori said her experience made her thankful for things she used to take for granted, and she now tries to enjoy every moment of her life.
“I was a very quiet person before I got sick, but now I’m much more talkative and bold about life because it’s a precious gift,” she said.
Lori also devotes her time to fund raising for St. Jude’s Hospitals. She has encouraged members of her sorority chapter to participate in “Up ‘til Dawn,” a student-led fund raiser for cancer patients.