Micheal Fischer

Young and Diagnosed - Micheal Fischer's Story

On Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at the age of 19, I sat with my mom in the doctor's office and listened to him tell us that I had leukemia and not strep throat as I had been told by a ER staff just 2 days prior, without even being seen by a doctor, I had been dismissed. Thankfully, I did not just leave it at that and went and saw my family doctor on Monday and had come blood work done.

We sat there and listened to my doctor explain I needed to head to Edmonton now to start treatment, the hematology team was waiting for us. All I could think was that now I needed surgery to remove it, but quickly discovered this was not the case with a blood cancer. I had been preparing to start training for my career with CN and moving to Winnipeg but now I was unable to do so.

My mom and I walked out of that office and had to make the horrible calls to my fiancée, Kayla, my dad, Mike, my 3 siblings, grandparents and all my other family. These were some of the hardest calls my mom and I had ever made. We picked up Kayla, packed an overnight bag and headed the 2 hour drive to Edmonton, where the rest of my family would meet us. We truly believed we would only be gone a night or 2 but that turned into 9 long months. My mom was crying quite hard as she drove that I offered to drive for her but she wouldn’t let me, so that I could comfort Kayla and absorb the news I had been given.

After my arrival, I underwent numerous tests and a bone marrow biopsy, it was confirmed as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, affecting chromosomes 9 and 11, called FLT 9:11, which by the way is something that usually affects men over the age of 60. I started chemo 2 days later. I went from a very healthy 19 year old, ready to start my career and planning my future wedding, to a very sick boy within the first week. I became bed ridden as even standing up would cause me to pass out. My mom stayed by my side through everything and keeping the family updated while Kayla went back home to stay with our dog and continue her schooling.

The first time I passed out was in the middle of the night. I had gotten up to use the bathroom and unfortunately, I hit the floor. My roommate at the time called for the nurses and throughout our stay together, she became a guardian angel for me. Always checking on me and making sure I was ok, even though she was also fighting the same disease. When we both got out of the hospital and she was sent home, I sent her a thank you gift and will never forget her. She made me realize that even when we have our own battles to fight, still be the person that looks out for others and help when you can.

After my first month in the hospital, I was told I could not be more than 10 minutes away from the U of A hospital and I thank my brother Jeff for living near by and allowing my mom to live there and then myself while I continued treatment as an outpatient. For allowing Kayla and my dad to also stay when they came on the weekends.

I had many other fights during the first 4 months. As it turned out, I am allergic to platelets. This required extra medication to take before a platelet transfusion and this requires me to wear a medical alert bracelet for life, so I had it tattooed on my wrist so I never lose it.

I was told by the doctors It helps to have a positive affirmation to repeat daily and live by it. I choose “Chuck it in the f… it bucket”. I said it all the time, my mom crocheted me a blanket with the saying on it and I lived to chuck it.

We were told within the first week he would need a stem cell transplant. My siblings were tested but unfortunately not a match. My brothers, Jeff, Andy and my sister were not a match for me, but they did sign up for the registry to possibly help someone else one day, as did many of my cousins I was later told. I was told without a transplant, there was a 5-10% chance of survival in 5 years, with the transplant, that number jumped to 95%. My eye sight had become affected, my liver was shot and my heart was being closely monitored. I fought pneumonia two separate times that I almost didn’t survive. I was scared. But then a miracle, I was fortunate an anonymous donor that was a 100% match had been found. I received by new cells on December 1, 2018. My mom and I had now moved to Calgary for this treatment, as this was the only hospital in Alberta that preformed the transplant. It was hard moving away from my family, my fiancée and my dreams of my career.

I don’t remember too much for the first 2 weeks after transplant as I’m told I slept for 10 days straight. I didn’t even wake to eat, shower or talk. I lost 15 pounds in that 10 days and my family was very worried for me.

I am now almost 8 years post transplant. I am considered cured. I have met my donor, who was even younger than myself. He was only 17 years old, a high school student when he donated. He was from London, England. My family brought him over for a surprise celebration at my 5 year post transplant date and we got to meet. We are now good friends and blood brothers. He is actually planning a trip back to Canada in 2027 with his girlfriend and parents so I can meet my new extended family. I, and my entire family, will forever be grateful for his selflessness and taking the time out to donate to a complete stranger. Because of Olly, I was able to ring the bell signifying I was in remission. Because of Olly, at the 5 year mark, I was able to say I had “Chucked it in the F… It Bucket!”

By the end of everything, I had over 73 blood and platelet transfusions but I had quit counting. Please, I encourage you to donate if you are able, whether blood or an organ donor. You never know whose life you may save.

I know without my family, my Mom and Dad, Kayla, by brothers and sister, my grandparents and all my other family, I would not be here today. They all stood by me, encouraging me to fight, encouraging me to look to my future and not give up. Keeping me positive and laughing when I wasn’t sleeping to help me from getting discouraged. I am grateful my Mom gave up work, her home and moved with me and stayed by my side for 9 months and was my advocate with the medical team when I was unable to speak for myself. I am grateful to Kayla for being there for me, keeping our plans alive and reminding me of the life we would build. We have now celebrated 6 years of marriage. I am grateful to my dad for making the hard decision to stay home and work to support me and mom while we had to live elsewhere. For driving down every weekend to be with me. I am thankful to my brothers and sister for wanting to be tested to be my donor, for doing what they could to support their baby brother. I am thankful to my grandparents, who took an immediate retirement and move so they could be closer and being there for me. And to all my other extended family, I was in many prayers and thoughts, calls and texts, this all showed me it really was take a village and I have a huge village.

The one thing that many of us in our family now talk about to anyone who will listen is to sign up and be a donor. Donate your blood, be a live donor, stem cells, organs and whatever you can. Sign up to be a donor after life. My family and I have seen how a small act of registering can save a life.