Michael Lee Michael Louis Lee

Mike was a happy- go- lucky artist excited to showcase his paintings at a new show in Virginia in September, 2016.  Being outside, discussing his art, meeting new people was his life and is his passion.  But in the wee hours of the morning he was struck with a surging pain and symptoms that drove him to the ER.  An X-ray confirmed a kidney stone so he had to miss participating in the show and somehow managed to get packed up over the next few days and drive the 2 day drive back home.  Over the next few weeks the kidney stones were confirmed and a procedure scheduled to remove them (it turned out the stones weren't there after all which was a mystery).    The day after the procedure and with a high fever we went to the ER for the first time back in Georgia and Mike was discharged with a "virus".  After not really improving and having a fever for several days, Mike went back to our family doctor for some tests.  She called on Sunday night as Mike was watching the Walking Dead  and told Mike to get to the ER immediately due to platelet level.  They found extremely low platelets (thrombocytopenia) and referred Mike to a hematologist.  After two visits and some tests, he was cleared to take our scheduled Thanksgiving vacation to St. Mary's for some fishing and boating and enjoying our RV.   During our trip Mike started noticing swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, and tightness in his belly so on Monday November 28th our family doctor recommended we go back to the ER immediately.  After many tests and advocating for admission to figure out WHAT was going on (the doctor did not want to admit him because he didn't "look" like he was having an emergency), the doctor returned to the room and stated "your lymph nodes are swollen and you may have lymphoma"!  WHAT??  Mike was admitted with a dual possibility: virus or cancer and so for three days in the hospital we hoped for a virus.  Mike's mother had done a 200 year+ family history and there was no cancer on either side of the family so we figured cancer would be unlikely.  We had been to several remote areas on two international trips and thought it was more likely he had an unexplained virus.  But the doctor came in and said you have ALL Leukemia and this will require an "intensive" treatment.  We cried and hugged each other as we began this  journey.  We now know why the Dr.  couldn't define "intensive" very well when we asked.  We are learning what this means and we appreciate your love and support with us on this journey to a cure.   Love, Michael and Michelle