‘My Colleagues Saved my Son’s Life’
When Rachel Longman joined Baxter, she had no way of knowing that the company would play a huge part in providing life-saving treatment for her son, Milo, when he was diagnosed with an unexpected illness.
We spoke with Rachel about her and Milo's journey.
Q: What initially attracted you to Baxter as an employer?
Rachel: I joined Baxter in October 2014 as a Quality Systems Senior Specialist for the United Kingdom and Ireland Compounding organization. I was excited about having a tangible link between my day-to-day work and the company's mission to save and sustain lives. I was also impressed with Baxter's Best Place to Work
initiatives, focus on women in leadership and the development opportunities available.
Q: What happened with your son, Milo?
Rachel: Milo was born in April 2019 and was always such a happy and lively little boy. When he was 2.5 years old, he didn't bounce back from a chest infection and over the course of a weekend we observed a deterioration in his mobility. By the time we managed to get an appointment with a doctor we knew something was wrong and he was subsequently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
I understand that saving and sustaining lives isn't just about administering a drug or performing life-saving surgery. It is about smaller things too; a warm greeting if you're feeling down or a helping hand when you're struggling. It's as much about physical health as it is about mental health.
Rachel Longman, Quality Systems Senior Specialist
Q: What does Milo’s treatment entail?
Rachel: Milo started treatment and was in remission within five weeks. However, treatment for his type of leukemia takes over 3.5 years to ensure it does not return. It gave me great comfort knowing that Baxter supplied so many elements of Milo's treatment, from his chemotherapy to the intravenous fluids we manufacture.
Q: What does saving and sustaining lives mean to you?
Rachel: Now, more than ever, I understand that saving and sustaining lives isn't just about administering a drug or performing life-saving surgery. It is about smaller things too; a warm greeting if you're feeling down or a helping hand when you're struggling. It's as much about physical health as it is about mental health. Baxter has saved and continues to sustain my son Milo's life, and has also saved my mental health, allowing me to have the flexibility to work around Milo's treatment and hospital appointments.
In my role, I support the the Baxter teams that help provide Milo's treatment. It makes me incredibly proud of the team. Every day, I look at Milo knowing my colleagues have saved his life. It is a gratitude I know I can never repay.