On Father's Day 1996, I was taken by my wife to the emergency room at the hospital and was given a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I was only 35 years old, and my wife, Lisa, and I had three children, Brittany (6), Zachary (3), and Tiffany (15 months). I couldn’t imagine my family growing up without a husband and father. My doctor gave me two options: a lengthy regimen of chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant (BMT). I was blessed to have one of my two brothers who was a perfect match for a BMT, and on October 14, 1996, I received a BMT. The procedure was fast and painless, and I was on my way to recovery. The entire experience/trial was a blessing, knowing the love of family and friends was always with me. This year I will be celebrating my 30th year of being cancer-free with my family and new grandson, William.
Please take the time to register on the bone marrow registry and make a father, mother, sister, or brother’s dream come true and change a life forever.
Michael
acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
