Diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2016, Lori's world became one of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and weekly blood transfusions.
Unfortunately, Lori's treatments stopped being effective and she was left with one last option to save her life - a stem cell transplant. A drastic treatment where all the bone marrow cells in her body had to be destroyed and replaced with healthy donor bone marrow cells, Lori needed to build up her fitness before she could qualify for this treatment.
"My body was tired and frail. By beginning a special exercise program, I could take control over my physical strength. I could build it up to a point where I would be strong enough to have my life-saving stem cell transplant."
"My special exercise program in the Wellness Gym was the turning point for me. It gave me new physical and mental strength, giving me and my family hope. I felt less tired. I felt safe in the expert care of specialist oncology exercise physiologists. It became my happy place, a place where I could feel some control over my cancer and hope for my future. It opened up my last treatment option – a stem cell transplant." - Lori Crupi
The Wellness Gym, recently opened, is the first and only specialist exercise gym for cancer patients in Victoria. It relies on funding from the community (that's YOU) to survive.
Exercise at the ONJ Centre is making an extraordinary difference for people like Lori. A life-saving difference.