Michael and Mom Talk Cancer

In this episode, Michael and his mom Ashlee speak with Francisco, another 21 year old cancer survivor who, like Michael, went through chemo and a Bone Marrow Transplant. However Francisco was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) at the young age of 12 and received his transplant at 13. Francisco's diagnosis was a long and painful process, physically and emotionally. In this very candid inte...

In this episode, Michael and his mom sit and chit chat around their dining room table.  A very impromptu episode, they laugh and joke about some of their hospital adventures, acknowledging that humor has been a key to getting through the rough moments.  Not only humor, but connecting to others.  These two are blessed to have each other, but they want you to know that you are not alo...

In this episode, Michael and his mom talk about surviving, while 2 young adult patients, friends, bonded by cancer and treatment, passed away.  They talk about how hard it is to understand the reason, the why, but find peace in moving forward.  Acceptance is the lesson of the moment.  They have discovered there is no winning or losing, just finding purpose and meaning in every day....

In this episode, Michael and his mom have a relaxed conversation, uncut and unedited, on the topic of body image. Michael's body has been through so much in the last 2 years, so many changes, from a 165lb athletic surfer to 130lb post transplant recipient, to 170 pounds of bloating and weight gain from prednisone to treat his Graft Versus Host Disease, and now to 120 pounds, trying to recover from...

In this episode, Michael and his mom talk about how coming home takes a little "rewiring of the brain".  After months in the hospital, coming home is not as easy as they thought it would be.  A chance meeting with a random stranger on the beach, led to a deep conversation about the patience needed to change from an invalid to a young man recovering at home.  Flipping the switch is n...

In this episode, Michael and his mom talk about how Michael hit an all time low emotionally.... he was ready to give up and stop his Post BMT treatment. Yet, somehow at his lowest point he found that human contact, sharing his vulnerability, and turning to his doctors for his mental health, which is as important, if not more so than physical health, helped him find the strength to accept where he...

In this episode, Michael and his mom talk about a specific moment, when Michael's emotions rose and his optimistic soul gave into his frustration and anger..  By now we know that Michael and Ashlee are all about the "beauty in the pain", but sometimes anger, frustration, sadness, are also the real and honest truth.  Michael talks about a moment that he simply lost it, he broke down, got...

In this episode, Michael and his mom talk about the "Beauty in Pain."   After celebrating the one year anniversary of his Bone Marrow Transplant, Michael was hit with a big setback, gallstones.  It should have been an easy fix, but with his complicated liver GVHD it led to a month and a half hospital admission, 5 weeks of only IV nutrition (TPN), 2 surgeries, many medications and so...

In this episode, Michael and his mom celebrate Michael's one year anniversary (new birthday!) of his Bone Marrow Transplant.   The fact that Michael is alive and sharing his perspectives, along with his mom, Ashlee, is pretty miraculous. The mom and son laugh and share a few humorous moments, but also reflect on how impactful this year has been in their lives and the lives of those aroun...

In this episode, Michael and his mom Ashlee speak with Nick, another cancer survivor who, like Michael, went through a Bone Marrow Transplant in 2020.   The two survivors share similarities, and in this interview discover how much they have common. The biggest difference between the two perhaps, Michael has been through multiple post transplant complications, including recurring GVHD (gr...

In this episode, Michael and his mom speak openly, and from their hearts, about some of the most powerful lessons they have learned since Michael was diagnosed with cancer.  From both points of view, they share how their perspectives have been changed forever.  From being inspired by Uncle Iro's wisdom in the animated series "Avatar" to really appreciating the smallest moments, cancer se...

In this episode, Michael and his mom talk about the mental struggles that have gone along with his cancer diagnosis, bone marrow transplant and the complications he still faces today.   They discuss how these health challenges have affected them emotionally, and how life has taken on a different meaning, and each struggle seems to come hand in hand with a new life-lesson.  Not alway...

Going home from the hospital after Michael's life saving Bone Marrow Transplant was not as simple as they had anticipated.  Just getting in the car after spending over a month at the hospital was challenging and eye-opening.  From being reunited with their kitty cat, to facing the million and one rules they had to follow to keep Michael safe from bacteria in his completely immunosuppress...

After chemo, the next step in saving Michael's life was the BMT, the Bone Marrow Transplant.  Michael and his mom share the beautiful moments, like Michael's first breath of fresh air after transplant, and the funny moments, like how many more wrinkles appeared on her face during that 5 1/2 week stay in the hospital!  But they also talk about the serious moments, like the night when they...

Michael and his mom, Ashlee, talk about chemotherapy, not only the physical changes and difficulties, but also the mental and emotional challenges.  Michael, a 19 year old athlete and college kid, was officially diagnosed with Hepatosplenic T-cell Lymphoma on August 3rd, 2020.  He started chemo immediately, and the lessons began rolling in.  From realizing the truth in how little lo...

Michael was diagnosed with Leukemia on July 14th, 2020, in the middle of Covid quarantine.  The exact diagnosis of Hepatosplenic Lymphoma came almost 3 weeks later on August 3rd, 2020.  This was shocking and definitely life-changing for a 19 year old kid who had grown up in a healthy family as a windsurfer, surfer, gym-goer.   Michael describes how he felt, some of the thoughts that...