Chronic leukemia hasn’t kept Jeff Read from angling time with his grandchildren and chasing the big one with his sons. 

The 68-year-old retired Starkville accountant and avid fisherman is celebrating 10 years as a survivor of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). While there have been tough times, Jeff said he is grateful that he can still reel in good times with his family.

“We fish wherever we go,” said the grandfather of seven. 

During his decade-long cancer journey, Jeff has been surrounded by a team of friends and neighbors at North Mississippi Health Services Cancer Care in Starkville. 

“I feel comfortable with them,” said Jeff, a retired Starkville accountant. “Technology wise, they know their stuff. And I’ve felt nurtured by the team.” 

Jeff knew some members of the team before he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2015. Others were friends of friends. And after 10 years of regular visits, the new friends are now old friends. He has watched their children grow up and celebrated milestones. 

“I know most of them by heart,” Jeff said. 

Chronic Blood Cancer

CLL is a type of leukemia that affects developing white blood cells. According to the American Cancer Society, CLL primarily affects older adults. It is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults.

Jeff was diagnosed through routine blood work done by his primary care team to monitor his type 2 diabetes and high triglycerides. Like many people with CLL, he didn’t have any symptoms when he was diagnosed. “My white blood cells got their attention,” Jeff said. 

Oncologist Dr. Julian Hill laid out the initial plan of attack and reassured him, Jeff said. While CLL isn’t considered curable, it responds well to treatment. It’s not unusual for CLL patients to survive and thrive for decades. 

“Dr. Hill tried to put it in perspective for me,” Read said. “The biggest thing is when you hear you have cancer, and you don’t know anything. He put me at ease.” 

For the first year, Jeff’s oncology team kept him under surveillance, and he didn’t have any noticeable symptoms of leukemia. 

But in April 2016, in the final days of tax season, Jeff became dangerously anemic. 

“I walked out to the get the newspaper, and I was exhausted,” he said. 

His oncology team realized he needed inpatient care at North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo. He remembers the Tupelo team was a little surprised he didn’t arrive sooner that day. 

“I needed to get my ducks in a row, so I swung by the office,” Jeff said. “Then my wife (Jane) drove me to Tupelo.” 

Jeff was hospitalized for five days and needed three blood transfusions. 

During the next 18 months, Jeff was able to receive outpatient infusion treatments at Cancer Care in Starkville. He has continued to see the Cancer Care team every two months to monitor his CLL.

Although Dr. Hill has now retired, oncologists Dr. Jiahuai Tan and Dr. Mythri Mudireddy have led his care in Starkville.

“If I had to go away for treatment, it would have been a whole lot harder,” Jeff said. 

Surrounded by Support

With his cancer treatment centered close to home, Jeff could lean into his community of support. 

His colleagues at T.E. Lott and Company held a dance party for him when he finished treatment. His wife and three adult sons, Jason, Josh and Jake, were backed up by their church, extended family, friends and neighbors. 

“I had a tremendous support group,” Jeff said. 

The Read family gathers at the cabin Jeff Read built after retiring. Fishing with his grandchildren at the lake is one of Jeff Read’s favorite pastimes. Two more grandchildren have joined the family since this photo was taken.  

Since retiring in 2021, Jeff has been able to pursue some of his lifelong dreams. He built his dream cabin, complete with a lake. His older grandchildren frequently join him in dropping a line.

“They love going there to fish with their Pops,” Jeff said. 

Family fishing trips have taken them to the Gulf Coast, Colorado, Hawaii, Costa Rica and Argentina. 

“When I see these pictures, it was all worth it,” Jeff said.