Kicking Cancer to the Curb: John & Jim’s Challenger Story

Jim and John both have personal experiences with VCU Massey Cancer Center. Their experience goes beyond the lifesaving cancer research Massey is conducting and highlights the caring and compassionate staff that helps, to truly set Massey apart.

Jim was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in July of 2013 and was treated through a clinical trial partnership between Massey and Johns Hopkins. Jim’s estimated chance of achieving remission was 30 percent. After 68 days in the hospital and four long months, Jim beat the odds and was officially declared in remission.  

John attributes the success of Jim’s treatment not only to the clinical trial, but also to the loving and caring staff. “Because we were living in Virginia, a state that had not yet recognized marriage equality, we were concerned that I would not have access to Jim, or his physicians, while he was in the hospital,” says John. “Nothing could have been further from the truth. We were both treated with the utmost love and respect. As important as the life giving drugs are, the care Massey’s team provides to patients and their families is equally important”. Jim’s cancer returned in July, 2014, but that September Jim was the recipient of a lifesaving stem cell transplant. “Again, the compassionate care of Massey’s bone marrow transplant staff was superb,” says John. “We are forever in Massey’s debt for helping Jim to triumph over cancer.”

Jim and John are proud to support the Massey Challenge along with John’s employer, Excel Courier. They want more people to know, “Massey Cancer Center saves lives”.