John Michael's Journey

John Michael and his beautiful girlfriend, Emily, preparing to leave for the prom. See more pics in the photo gallery.

Welcome to John Michael's Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated and informed as he battles AML. John Michael is an intelligent 17 year old with a quirky sense of humor. He loves Auburn University against his parents better judgement... GO DAWGS! We love reading your comments, so please visit our guestbook and leave us a posted message when you visit John Michael's page. Feel free to also read the journal history that logs JM's Journey from shortly after diagnosis.

We always enjoy your private letters to us by e-mail. If you send us an e-mail, PLEASE type John Michael's name in the subject heading. Because of spam and computer viruses, we never open e-mail from a sender we don't recognize with "Hello" in the subject line or a blank subject heading.

New pictures added 7/15/08.

If you donate blood and platelets and are in the Savannah area, please consider using the Community Blood Bank at Memorial Medical Center. The phone number to Community Blood Bank is 912-350-5643.





John Michael's story in his own words...


I was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia (AML) on January 5, 2005 when I was thirteen. Although I had very few symptoms, 95% of my bone marrow was malignant cancer. I was hospitalized the next day for my first round of chemotherapy. I stayed for over a month fighting the side effects of my various chemo drugs. My next bone marrow aspiration showed me to be cancer free! Because AML is so aggressive, we had lots more to do before the battle was over to keep it from coming back. I had three more rounds of chemo to wipe out all of the marrow (even the healthy) in my bones, to prepare for a bone marrow transplant (BMT). My sister turned out to be a good enough match to donate her bone marrow. After her surgery, where two surgeons removed marrow from 100 different places along her hip bones, I was transfused with this life saving blood producer. 10 days later I was in ICU fighting for my life. I had developed several life threatening side effects from the chemo and BMT, including Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), blindness, diabetes, VOD (liver failure), and Avascular Neucrosis (AVN). I have had almost 200 blood and platelet transfusions, taken more pills than we can count, had two central lines and a portacath, spent more time in the hospital than at home the year of my diagnosis, had 7 bone marrow aspirations, drove to Atlanta from my home, 4 hours away, once a week, for several months, lived in Atlanta for 3 months during my BMT, missed being in school full-time for almost two years after my diagnosis, had two hip surgeries to help my AVN, repeated my childhood immunizations, and been isolated from friends and family for long periods of time.

Through all this I have grown closer to my family and to God. I know He has a purpose for my life. Cancer is not the title to the book of my life, it is merely a chapter. Even though I have been lucky to become cancer free, lots of kids every year don’t make it. We have to fight for the day when there is a CURE for every kid diagnosed with cancer. We also have to aggressively pursue CURES with less side effects. I have been cancer free for almost 2 ½ years!

Journal

Thursday, May 14, 2009 11:50 AM CDT

Greeting Family and Friends,
Just wanted to share that no news is good news. For John Michael, it has been a quite year on the medical front. We are all enjoying our "new normal". He is getting ready for his senior year in high school, working a few days a week, and spending time with his friends. Anna is preparing for jr. high and a dance recital. Life is so much easier than before. We value the important things like family, friends, and faith. We all stay super busy, but with the things we choose. We just wanted to update you with new pictures...they say more than words could on how happy John Michael is. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.
With Hope,
Kim

Hospital Information:

We are home!!!

Links:

E-mail Author: tim2kim99@yahoo.com

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.