Enliven First - Lou Longo

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

"Jingshen is the Mandarin word for spirit and vivacity. It is an important word for those who would lead, because above all things, spirit and vivacity set effective organizations apart from those that will decline and die."
- James L. Hayes Memos for Management: Leadership

"Prior to being diagnosed, I can look back and use words such as 'arrogant', 'selfish' and 'stubborn' to describe myself at times in my life. Surviving cancer has given me remarkable courage and humility mixed together with confidence I always had and that's a powerful combination."
- Lou when asked what the biggest difference he sees in himself

Lou Longo was living the American Dream: picture perfect family, fast track on career and beautiful home. Then in November 2002, one week before his family was to leave for Disney World on their first family vacation, he was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). The picture was dramatically altered and he had no idea what would happen next. What he did know was that he could not face this ordeal alone. Minutes after being told the news via a phone call from his doctor, with his wife by his side, he started making his own calls to family and friends. Knowing that it has always been the support of family and friends that he shared positive news and now, he would rely on them more than ever, in dealing with this unexpected event.
	Lou and his family on a recent Disney trip.
Up until that point, life had been going according to plan. Born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts, Lou graduated from Malden Catholic High School and then earned his bachelors degree from Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts. His first job was as a fund accountant for the Boston Company (now Mellon Bank). Lou then had an opportunity to follow his passion for teaching and coaching and worked the next 6 years in Student Affairs at two area colleges. He married his college sweetheart, Tracy, in 1994 and their first child, Trevor, was born in November 1997. Although he loved working with students and having an impact in their lives as they transitioned to adulthood, the nights and weekends required for a career in a college setting was taking time away from his family. So Lou searched for a more traditional schedule and career and networked with his friends and family to find a compatible and challenging career change. Lou joined Putnam Investments in January 1998 as an entry level client support representative. Relying on his business background and gregarious personality, Lou quickly advanced to progressive leadership roles up to Assistant Vice-President, with much of his tenure supporting Putnam's top-tier brokerage firm of Edward Jones. Along the way, he managed and trained hundreds of people and learned as much from them as he hoped they learned from him. During this tenure, Tracy and Lou were blessed again, with the birth of Tyler in November 1999. Lou's illness came on quickly and without warning. What started as an annoying cold transcended to various bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia followed by the AML diagnosis. Lou was was put into a medical coma in the Intensive Care Unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital for over 7 weeks. During this time, Lou was placed on a ventilator, feeding tube and various other mechanical devices to sustain him while he was undergoing intensive medical treatment for the AML. In addition, he needed constant transfusions of blood and platelets to keep him alive long enough for the chemotherapy to hopefully do its job. About 10 days after starting the chemotherapy and developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Lou's body was failing and resisting the treatement. He was administered the "Rites of Passage" as his doctors told his family and friends "We have done everything we can for him medically; he is in God's hands tonight." Yet, Lou survived. Lou's doctors at Dana Farber Cancer Institute refer to him as the "Miracle Boy", since he suffered extreme complications and trauma to his body and actually lived long enough to talk about it and go on to live a full and active life. After an exhausting battle that brought him to death's doorstep more than once, Lou is living proof of "that, which does not kill you, only makes you stronger". Lou is currently in remission and shares his experience with groups of all sizes and settings. Lou reminds people that positive relationships are the key to success in everything you do, from school to work to family. Lou's combination of humor and passion about his life experiences enables people to see the positive side of every situation, despite the curveballs that life throws your way. His story proves that life is always worth living to the fullest, regardless of the potential challenges and setbacks we face. Lou will share with you that believing in your vision and following your heart, combined with the support of family and friends, can provide results you never thought possible. Happiness can be achieved.

Lou and his family on a recent Disney trip.