Inspirational Stories

In 2001, I described my health as excellent. I had a great job, was very physically active, and participated in a number of nonprofit activities. However, I very occasionally experienced extreme abdominal cramps that caused nausea and curling into a fetal position for approximately five hours. Doctors were perplexed, though suspected gallstones.

After one episode in March 2023, I underwent a real-time CT scan, performed by a gastroenterologist. One day later, I learned that I had non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Within a week, I was examined by an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic who confirmed that my disease was follicular B-cell NHL.

That was 21 years ago.

Initially, the team treated me with what was a standard initial chemotherapy regimen, CVP-R. From that, I achieved complete remission but relapsed after nine months.

At that point, I participated in a clinical trial intended to assess the effectiveness of a radioimmunology treatment. The medication, Zevalin, was relatively new and approved for a single infusion. Results were quite promising, though most patients eventually relapsed. The trial investigated the pros and cons of two infusions separated by six months. I was participant #27 of phase 2.

The result was excellent. I was in remission for five wonderful years. However, I did relapse a second time. At that point, my oncologists recommended an autologous stem cell transplant (SCT), which I received in September 2009. What a blessing, and what wonderful support from my wife, and mother-in-law (who took over living with and keeping relatively normal lives for our two children)!

So, now it's been nearly 14 years since the SCT. I remain in complete remission. The only change in our lives is that I have two examinations a year which only show that I remain in complete remission and show no long-term detrimental effects. I retired 12 years ago and now "work" full-time for two nonprofit organizations ― The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to which I completely credit my survival and a land conservation organization of which I am currently president. I completed two very slow Chicago Marathons and two very slow 100-mile bike rides, so I was able to resume an active lifestyle. Life is wonderful!