I'm participating in the Transplant Games of America in 2024 in Birmingham Alabama. This will be my 3rd time attending. My first was in Grand Rapids Michigan and the 2rd was in Houston Texas. By donating you will be helping myself and others like me make this happen. These games mean a lot to me and my teammates. I've meet people from all over the country who will always be my friends. Not to mention I get to strut my stuff with my bowling skills. 

I was diagnosed with AML and ALL in January 2007. I was immediately added to the list for a Bone Marrow transplant. Throughout 2007 I was admitted to the hospital 5 times for a stay of 30 days each time.  My stay consisted of a week of strong chemo and the remainder of the stay was spent getting my counts back to normal. Later in the year I heard the words "you're in remission" which meant I was ready for transplant.  By this time, I had a donor! My hero was a 24 year old male from Grand Rapids Michigan. I actually got to meet Dan and Sarah, his wife now, at my first Transplant Games in Grand Rapids.

My Transplant was scheduled for October of 2007 at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville Tennessee. I was nervous and excited at the same time. I was going often for bone marrow biopsies and in September of 2007 I was told I was no longer in remission. This meant no transplant. My doctors at Vanderbilt suggested I come there for this last round of chemo. I had a entire room of doctors along with interns and students. They came up with a plan and it worked!

Transplant was done in December 2007 and I'm here to talk about it!