Woman Plans Her Wedding in 12 Hours After Receiving Devastating Diagnosis from Doctor

At the beginning of 2025, Anabel Brenner Schleicher and her fiancé were balancing demanding nurse practitioner programs while planning their September wedding. Life was busy but steady — until March, when the 26-year-old discovered a swollen lymph node on her neck that would quietly change everything.

“I had no other symptoms at the time other than the lymph node,” Schleicher recalls. “The main concern was that more enlarged lymph nodes were continuously popping up, going down my neck.”

After two weeks with no improvement, she met with her primary care provider, who ordered routine lab work. Everything came back normal, so she was referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. The ENT noticed the enlarged nodes but wasn’t concerned since her labs didn’t raise any red flags. He recommended she return in six weeks if the swelling persisted.

Five weeks later, Schleicher noticed even more enlarged lymph nodes. The ENT ordered an ultrasound and her first biopsy but reassured her that cancer was “highly unlikely” and that the test was simply a precaution.

After undergoing the biopsy in late May, Schleicher waited two and a half weeks without hearing back. Meanwhile, new lymph nodes began appearing above her clavicle and under her arms. When she followed up, she was told the lab had allowed her biopsy sample to expire — it could no longer be used. A repeat biopsy was scheduled for July 1.

The day of that second procedure, Schleicher noticed bruising on her legs. Her ENT ordered repeat bloodwork, which revealed a significant drop in her platelet count. She was quickly referred to a hematologist-oncologist for further testing.

On July 28, 2025 — four months after her first doctor’s visit — Schleicher was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Before her oncology appointment, she learned she’d likely be admitted for aggressive treatment starting July 31. With her original September wedding fast approaching, she and her fiancé made a spontaneous decision: they would get married right away. Within 12 hours, their friends and family helped organize an intimate ceremony, and on July 30, the couple exchanged vows.

As of October 2025, Schleicher is in the consolidation phase of chemotherapy, which lasts nearly three months. This stage follows the initial “induction” phase that brings the disease into remission and aims to eliminate any remaining cancer cells that might not show up on routine tests.

“Then comes interim maintenance for 56 days, delayed intensification for 63 days, and finally maintenance, which lasts about two years,” she explains. “Once I reach maintenance, life should be more back to normal.”

A bone marrow biopsy after her first treatment phase showed some residual disease, meaning another biopsy will be performed after consolidation. If the disease persists, a bone marrow transplant will likely follow.

Schleicher and her husband have since moved in with her parents for extra support. With him balancing work and school, the move has helped them manage the demanding treatment schedule and frequent appointments.

Though her social life is on hold due to her weakened immune system, Schleicher has learned to embrace the emotional ups and downs of her journey.

“There will be good days and bad days,” she says. “It’s okay to let yourself be sad on the bad ones and lean on your support system. Enjoy the good days and find the positives when you can — each chemotherapy treatment is one step closer to the finish line.”

Her mindset remains fierce and determined. “Cancer,” she says, “is going to be embarrassed that it chose to mess with me.”