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Helping People. Providing Solutions. Improving Lives. Gemini Medical Finds Community Mission Helping Its Own
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Members of Gemini Medical participated in the Light the Night Walk to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Since Inventory Manager Leah Aitkin’s daughter was diagnosed with ALL in 2013, they have helped Leah raise nearly $60,000 for the charity.
It started with a cold that Ayla Aitkin couldn’t kick.
Gemini Medical Inventory Manager Leah Aitkin, Ayla’s mother, never expected it would lead to a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) when Ayla was just 21 months old.
“It was so hard. I was in disbelief that it could happen to my child. When she was diagnosed, they told us it could be one of four things and cancer was one of those things and I thought, there is no way that could be what it is,” said Leah. “Sometimes, I still feel that way.”
The next several years – Ayla was diagnosed Valentine’s Day 2013 – were tough as she had to undergo bone marrow biopsies, surgeries to insert a port, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, spinal taps and other treatments.
Leah, who has worked at Gemini Medical for 9 1/2 years, also created a team for Ayla called Team Brave, after the Pixar movie that her daughter watched on repeat while she was in the hospital, and began participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night event in Minneapolis. Money raised from the event allows the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fund treatments for patients suffering from blood cancers.
“I walk so I don’t forget the fight for her life,” she said. “I walk in support of Ayla, her successful treatment and to find a cure.”
Since starting the team in 2013, Team Brave has raised close to $60,000.
“When she was diagnosed and we put the team together, I reached out to everyone I knew. Gemini has been so generous. They are our No. 1 supporter by far and have been for the past six years,” she said. “A lot of people could donate money and then trickle off, but they are still supporting me – even though Ayla is in remission. No one asks us why we keep going, they ask how they can help. That speaks volumes.”
Agency Principal Mike Lyons said Leah and Ayla are family and of course you support family.
“Many Gemini team members, if not all, have children, nieces or nephews. Cancer, at some point or another, touches all of us directly or indirectly. It especially pulls at your heart strings when a child is involved. Supporting Team Brave aligns with our values at Gemini and, as an organization, we are proud to be involved,” he said.
In addition, her coworkers also come out each year to walk with Leah and her family.
Nicole Van Heel, HR generalist with Gemini Medical, who walked with Team Brave this year, said, “It’s important to support Leah. She’s one of us. This is a cause that is near and dear to her heart, so it is important to us.”
Nicole said Gemini Medical’s support of Leah and Team Brave is being rolled into a larger community engagement outreach program this year to help those in the community, serving the part of Gemini’s mission that is “Helping People. Providing Solutions. Improving Lives.”
“We believe that we have the ability to make a difference in the communities that we serve and support outside,” she said. “We are doing quarterly volunteer opportunities. We are hoping to impact four organizations a year, be it through donating our time or as a financial contribution. We want to have the most impact that we can at any given time.”
Nicole said Gemini wants to support the communities it serves.
“As we continue to develop and grow as an agency, we want to make sure that we are doing as much as we can,” she said.
Mike said the mission is what Gemini stands for in any capacity.
“We’re a patient-centric organization. But on any given day, we are faced with challenges. We may have to prepare for a complex procedure with many options, someone might have a tough day or challenges outside of work; or FedEx might not have delivered on time. Any scenario can be improved by living this mission,” he said. “No matter the adversity or challenge, our mindset is to help by providing a solution that will create the best possible outcome.”
Today, Ayla is a healthy 7-year-old, who loves science, reading, unicorns, puppies and gymnastics.
“She is so brave, funny and sweet – a true inspiration and the bravest little girl I know,” Leah said.
It started with a cold that Ayla Aitkin couldn’t kick.
Gemini Medical Inventory Manager Leah Aitkin, Ayla’s mother, never expected it would lead to a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) when Ayla was just 21 months old.
“It was so hard. I was in disbelief that it could happen to my child. When she was diagnosed, they told us it could be one of four things and cancer was one of those things and I thought, there is no way that could be what it is,” said Leah. “Sometimes, I still feel that way.”
The next several years – Ayla was diagnosed Valentine’s Day 2013 – were tough as she had to undergo bone marrow biopsies, surgeries to insert a port, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, spinal taps and other treatments.
Leah, who has worked at Gemini Medical for 9 1/2 years, also created a team for Ayla called Team Brave, after the Pixar movie that her daughter watched on repeat while she was in the hospital, and began participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night event in Minneapolis. Money raised from the event allows the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fund treatments for patients suffering from blood cancers.
“I walk so I don’t forget the fight for her life,” she said. “I walk in support of Ayla, her successful treatment and to find a cure.”
Since starting the team in 2013, Team Brave has raised close to $60,000.
“When she was diagnosed and we put the team together, I reached out to everyone I knew. Gemini has been so generous. They are our No. 1 supporter by far and have been for the past six years,” she said. “A lot of people could donate money and then trickle off, but they are still supporting me – even though Ayla is in remission. No one asks us why we keep going, they ask how they can help. That speaks volumes.”
Agency Principal Mike Lyons said Leah and Ayla are family and of course you support family.
“Many Gemini team members, if not all, have children, nieces or nephews. Cancer, at some point or another, touches all of us directly or indirectly. It especially pulls at your heart strings when a child is involved. Supporting Team Brave aligns with our values at Gemini and, as an organization, we are proud to be involved,” he said.
In addition, her coworkers also come out each year to walk with Leah and her family.
Nicole Van Heel, HR generalist with Gemini Medical, who walked with Team Brave this year, said, “It’s important to support Leah. She’s one of us. This is a cause that is near and dear to her heart, so it is important to us.”
Nicole said Gemini Medical’s support of Leah and Team Brave is being rolled into a larger community engagement outreach program this year to help those in the community, serving the part of Gemini’s mission that is “Helping People. Providing Solutions. Improving Lives.”
“We believe that we have the ability to make a difference in the communities that we serve and support outside,” she said. “We are doing quarterly volunteer opportunities. We are hoping to impact four organizations a year, be it through donating our time or as a financial contribution. We want to have the most impact that we can at any given time.”
Nicole said Gemini wants to support the communities it serves.
“As we continue to develop and grow as an agency, we want to make sure that we are doing as much as we can,” she said.
Mike said the mission is what Gemini stands for in any capacity.
“We’re a patient-centric organization. But on any given day, we are faced with challenges. We may have to prepare for a complex procedure with many options, someone might have a tough day or challenges outside of work; or FedEx might not have delivered on time. Any scenario can be improved by living this mission,” he said. “No matter the adversity or challenge, our mindset is to help by providing a solution that will create the best possible outcome.”
Today, Ayla is a healthy 7-year-old, who loves science, reading, unicorns, puppies and gymnastics.
“She is so brave, funny and sweet – a true inspiration and the bravest little girl I know,” Leah said.