I'M A SURVIVOR!
In support of
Jonathan Agin
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Jonathan Agin
I am unbelievably excited to announce that on January 26th, Dr. Melhem Solh of the Blood & Marrow Transplant Group of GA (@ Northside) shared the great news with Alli and me that my blood marrow biopsy showed zero cancer cells in my body.
I KICKED ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA (APL) IN THE ASS!
I KICKED ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA (APL) IN THE ASS!
And the best part was that Darrah, my parents, Lori and Mindy, via FaceTime, were all with us to witness me ringing the Victory Bell at that glorious moment! Plus the clinic staff made that moment even more special as almost every nurse there (the real-life superheroes who were there for me throughout this entire phase) lined up and cheered me on as if I had just won the Gold Medal!
Later that night, we all had a chance to celebrate with my SIL & BIL, Lara & Andrew, as I was finally able to eat in a nice restaurant (without worrying how crowded it was), enjoy a delicious meal, and imbibe in my first drink in 8 months (screw Dry January)!
Looking back, this journey was the ultimate "unforced error." Who would’ve thought? One minute I’m a healthy, active, middle-aged dad playing a few sets of tennis on a Tuesday night; the next, I’m checked into the hospital on Friday, May 16th, trading my racquet in for an IV pole strapped with 10 bags of platelets, plasma, meds, and chemo. I had no idea what I was about to endure or if I would even be able to endure. But here I am today, nearly 10 months later, with a new title: CANCER SURVIVOR.
People ask how I got through it. Honestly? For me, it was my resilient and optimistic “Life IS Good” frame of mind and the fact that the phrase “I can’t do this” has never been part of my vernacular. During my bleakest hours in the ICU, waking up intubated, not knowing where I was, I just kept fighting. This mindset starts with my positive attitude and daily motto to make this day better than the previous day.
Of course, I didn't do this solo. My support system is basically an elite special forces unit known as “Jonathan’s Support Squad”. My family was there from the scary first days to the final victory lap. To my "tribe"—my basketball and tennis buddies, our synagogue, my work family, Darrah’s teachers, Facebook friends, and all of you who have been praying for me—THANK YOU. We couldn’t have navigated this craziness without you. And to all the Northside doctors and nurses in the ICU, the BMT unit, and the BMTGA clinic: thank you for keeping me around to enjoy my family, watch my daughter grow up, and continue on life’s rollercoaster for many more years to come.
Since this is my FINAL UPDATE and we have come full circle as I return to my old “normal”, I’m leaving you with two "Calls to Action":
- Be a Platelet Hero: My type of leukemia, APL, causes dangerously low platelets, which lead to my brain bleeds and the reason I ended up in the ER to begin with. Platelet donors save lives—I would NOT be here without them. If you’re near Atlanta, please call Atlanta Blood Services of Northside Hospital & Cobb County at 404.459.8744. It’s easier to do than you might think. www.atlantabloodservices.com
- Support Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society): #bloodcancerunited, I hadn't heard of this organization until I was in the thick of it, but they are incredible. They provide care and funding for families facing APL, leukemia, and lymphoma. Check them out at www.bloodcancerunited.org.
Shalom, peace and love!
Jonathan, Alli, Darrah and Duke!
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