But managing her health wasn’t the only challenge she faced. Alli’s career meant she had to balance her professional responsibilities with the growing demands of her personal life. Despite the diagnosis, she continued to push forward at work, grateful for the support she found from her colleagues and leaders at Schwab.

Balancing Health and Career Amid Uncertainty

As the pandemic worsened, so did the anxiety surrounding her health. With an immune system compromised by both CLL and pregnancy, she felt vulnerable. “The famous line from my doctor was, ‘We’re managing COVID, not cancer,’” Alli said, recalling the gravity of the situation. “From a work perspective, it was more of a mental game. I had to compartmentalize a lot.”

Alli made the decision to open up to her manager and director about her diagnosis. To her relief, Schwab’s commitment to supporting its employees wasn’t just a slogan. Her team immediately stepped in to help, ensuring she had everything she needed to manage her health without sacrificing her career.

Schwab, like many companies during COVID-19, shifted to virtual work, which gave Alli the flexibility to focus on her wellness while working remotely. “My team really rallied around me,” she said. “They made sure I had all the resources I needed. I felt supported at every turn, even though there was very little data on how CLL patients would fare if they contracted COVID-19.”

That support became more crucial when her son was born. Although Alli had prepared for motherhood, the physical toll was more than she anticipated. She suffered from severe back pain, a condition she’d dealt with for years, and the constant demands of caring for a newborn only exacerbated it. Eventually, she had to undergo spinal fusion surgery to alleviate the pain, and again her Schwabbie peers stepped in to provide her the time and space to recover.

Finding Support When She Needed it Most

Three months later, Alli returned to work stronger, thanks to physical therapy and her team’s unwavering support. The back surgery had been a success, but Alli’s journey was far from over. Just a year later, recuperating after 12 months of physical therapy and settling into a new rhythm of motherhood and work, she found out she was pregnant again.

This time, her pregnancy coincided with the progression of her leukemia, and her doctors made the difficult decision to start treatment before she could reach her third trimester. As a mother, the thought of undergoing cancer treatment while pregnant was terrifying. “When I found out I couldn’t make it through the third trimester without treatment, it hit me hard,” Alli admitted. But her focus remained on the well-being of her family and her health.

Alli's pregnancy made the need to begin treatment more urgent, but it also made treating her much more complicated. Alli’s medical team began creating a treatment plan for a pregnant patient with CLL for the first, which required several more weeks of testing, planning, conversations with the medical team and appointments. Since the traditional CLL treatment was not intended for pregnant patients, they devised a new program that would benefit Alli but not harm the baby she was carrying. After weeks of delays and frustration in trying to have a biopsy performed to confirm the increasing levels of leukemia in Alli's bone marrow, the increased levels were confirmed, and she prepared for the experimental treatment regimen and secured the time off as needed.

With the help of her medical team, she began a combination of immunotherapy administered at her clinic and twice-daily oral medication. It was a grueling time, but Alli’s team at Schwab once again rose to the occasion. “I would hand off work for a couple of days when I had treatments and pick it back up when I was feeling better,” she said. Her team’s flexibility and understanding allowed her to navigate the most challenging period of her life without losing ground professionally.

“Schwab’s leadership truly steps up to support their employees as whole people,” she said. “It wasn’t just about the work—they cared about my health and my family. They made sure I had what I needed to focus on my recovery.”

Navigating Parenthood, Cancer, and Treatment

When her daughter was born, the challenges intensified. The treatment Alli had received during pregnancy affected her baby’s immune system, leading to frequent doctor visits and medical treatments for her daughter that required Alli’s immediate attention. Throughout this time, Schwab again found ways to support her.

“I had to take (my daughter) to so many appointments, and Schwab let me combine my cancer leave with the time I needed to care for her,” she explained. “It wasn’t easy, but my colleagues donated sick time to me so that I wouldn’t miss a paycheck. It’s a policy Schwab has in place for situations like mine, and it was a lifeline.”

Despite the challenges, Alli found strength in her roles as both a mother and a professional. She learned to manage her health alongside her work, creating a balance that allowed her to thrive in both areas. “It’s important to be transparent about what you need,” she says. “Asking for help can be hard, but having open conversations with my leaders made all the difference.”

Her advice for others facing similar challenges? “Make sure you have a solid support system, both at home and at work,” she said. “You need people who can help with the day-to-day, whether that’s picking up your kids from school or covering for you at work. And find a medical team that understands you’re more than just a patient. They need to help you manage your life, not just your illness.”

The Power of Teamwork

Alli credits much of her success to her amazing colleagues and leaders at Schwab. Whether they were stepping in to help with her workload or being there for her during the toughest times, her team’s commitment never failed.

“I would rotate through my team and let them know if treatment was likely to start soon,” Alli said. “It was a little unpredictable at times because my doctors would make decisions based on my labs. But my teammates always stepped up. We had a system in

 place where I could hand off tasks before treatments, and they would ensure everything continued running smoothly.”

That level of teamwork allowed Alli to focus on her health and family without the added stress of worrying about her career. It showed the strength of a workplace that values the well-being of its people. When Alli needed to restart treatment a year after her daughter was born, the collaborative foundation was already in place to support her through the experience once again.

Alli felt this even more deeply during her annual review. Despite the challenges she had faced, she’d managed to produce some of her best work. Her manager’s words still resonate with her: “Through all the challenges you were facing, you took the time to identify and utilize your resources and relationships to ensure the work was supported. With work covered you felt confident you could step away as needed to focus on your care. Taking this approach enabled you to do some of your best work while managing everything else in your life. The resiliency you demonstrated through everything is incredible.”

“I told her it was because of the support,” Alli reflected. “Knowing that I had the space to take care of myself allowed me to do my best work when I was at my desk.”

Looking Forward with Gratitude

Today, Alli is happy to have found a sustainable balance between her personal and professional life, thanks in large part to the understanding and flexibility Schwab provided. And as she reflects on her journey, she’s proud of how far she’s come—not just as a person bravely battling cancer, but also as a mother and a professional.

Through it all, her story speaks to the power of resilience, the value of community, and the importance of having an employer who truly cares. “The support Schwab gave me allowed me to get through the hardest time in my life,” she said. “For that, I’m incredibly grateful.”

Read more about Alli's story here.

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