I first came to MD Anderson in January 2013, after being diagnosed in Florida with acute myeloid leukemia. I didn’t know it at the time, but I would remain in Houston for eight months.

I arrived at MD Anderson on a Tuesday morning, and met with my doctors and underwent tests all week. By late Friday night, I was being admitted to the hospital. My first round of chemotherapy began just a few hours later. I continued to receive treatment...