“Soon enough I would learn the specific diagnosis: myelodysplastic syndrome, a disorder of the bone marrow. In my case, the disease growing inside me had morphed into acute myeloid leukemia. I would need intensive chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant to save my life.”

American writer, advocate, and motivational speaker

Suleika Jaouad is an American writer, advocate, and motivational speaker. She is known for her essays and commentary, including her “Life, Interrupted” column in The New York Times, and for work published in Vogue, Glamour, NPR’s All Things Considered, and Women’s Health. Her 2021 memoir, Between Two Kingdoms, describes her experience with leukemia and became a New York Times best seller. She later published The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life in 2025. Her work often reflects on illness, resilience, and the effort to build meaning through difficult circumstances.