31
-
JonnyImerman shared an experience
Procedure or Surgery (Implant chemotherapy port): A letter from Jonny Imerman
I am a testicular cancer survivor. I was born in Saginaw, Michigan, in
1975. When I was just a baby, my parents divorced, and we moved to a
suburb of Detroit called Bloomfield Hills. I attended Cranbrook
Kingswood School from kindergarten through high school. After
graduation, I moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I earned a bachelor’s
degree in psychology from the University of Michigan. After college, I
returned to the Detroit area. I worked during the day while earning an
MBA from Wayne State University at night.
Suddenly, one Thursday morning in October 2001, my busy world came
to a standstill. At 26 years old, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I
couldn’t believe it, so I went to another doctor for a second opinion. He
confirmed that I had cancer. The testicle was the epicenter of the
disease. I went right into surgery. My left testicle was removed.
Although the surgery went well, my visits to the doctor did not stop
there. It soon became clear that the cancer had spread (“metastasized”)
from the testicle. The disease was making its way up my body. The form
of testicular cancer I had was a "non-seminoma." That means it was a
mixture of many different types of cancer cells, as opposed to a
"seminoma" tumor, which consists of only one type of cancer cell. Non-
seminomas are much more aggressive and spread much faster than their
counterpart.
I knew what was nextchemotherapybut I did not understand what
that meant. What is chemotherapy? What color is it? How will it make
me feel? I called my brother. I started sobbing. I could barely talk. My
world was shattered. But, I was not going to give up.
My oncologist told me that the treatments might make me sterile. So, I
went to a cryogenics laboratory to bank sperm. After that, it was time to
start chemotherapy. My chemotherapy recipe was known as BEP:
Bleomycin, Etoposide (aka: VP-16), and CisPlatin. My regimen included
three cycles of chemotherapy. Each cycle lasted three weeks. One cycle
included:
Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday8 hours of
chemotherapy each day
Week 2: Wednesday2 hours of chemotherapy
Week 3: Wednesday2 hours of chemotherapy
The treatment weakened my body and wiped out most of my white blood
cells. In fact, I was in such bad shape, the doctors were forced to delay
my chemotherapy while my body recovered between cycles. In addition,
the chemotherapy caused many side effects: throat sores, mouth sores,
skin rashes, dry skin, cystic acne, extreme fatigue, hair loss, numbness in
my fingers and toes, and partial hearing loss. But the most damaging
side effect was a blood clot that developed in my left arm. The clot
formed around my port, a medical implant that was an access point for
my chemotherapy. The doctors had to remove my port, pull out most of
the blood clot, and then pump me with blood thinners to break up the
rest. With all the side effects and delays, the chemotherapy lasted for
five months.
At last, after all the treatment, I thought my fight was over. I slowly
returned to the gym, started going out socially, and got back into life.
Although I was happy to be alive, every day was a challenge. I did not
have as much energy. I looked different. I struggled to find my post-
cancer identity. Just as I was getting comfortable with myself, I learned
the fight was not over.
Nearly one year after chemotherapy, a routine CT scan showed four
tumors along my spine. Rather than risk cutting the spine, the surgeon
went in through the stomach. He made an 11-inch incision, placed my
organs to the side, and took out each tumor. The surgery lasted for four
hours. It was successful.
Finally, I was freed from the disease and began my road to recovery.
I made a vow to myself while I was on chemotherapy. I looked at others
in the oncology clinic and realized that I was different. Each day, my
room was filled with family members and close friends. With so much
support, I did not have a chance to lose hope. However, in many of the
other rooms, hope already seemed lost. As I walked down the hall with
my chemotherapy IV-pole on the way to the bathroom, I saw other people
fighting cancer alone. They were lying in bed, motionless, watching
television or staring in space. Their only stimulation was a nurse
checking in for a minute or two on the hour. I knew this was not right. It
upset me. I felt guilty because I had so many good people and so much
positive energy around me. I made a silent promise that if I were given
life after cancer, I would help these people.
So, how could I help? I walked into the other rooms, one at a time, and
introduced myself. “Hey, what’s up, I’m Jonny. What’s your name? I have
testicular cancer. What type of cancer do you have?” Many were older
than me. A few were younger. Although they were exhausted just like
me, everyone was friendly and welcomed my conversation. We shared
stories, emotions, and opinions about many things in life. We all had our
own type of the same disease. Some fought for themselves, others for
their children, and yet others for a spouse. But no matter the motivation,
we were all fighting for life. And I wanted to help them get it back.
I wondered: “What if every cancer fighter could talk to a cancer survivor,
who not only had beaten the same type of cancer, but who also was the
same age and gender as the fighter?” The cancer survivor would be an
angelwalking, living proof that the fighter could win too. What an
amazing connection. This is why I created Imerman Angels.
I want to thank “each” of you for taking the time to learn about our
mission. The number one way to help is to connect us with cancer
fighters and survivors. They are the lifeblood of our service. No one
should fight this disease alone.
I wish each of you well.
Sincerely,
Jonny Imerman
Executive Director
Imerman Angels
P.S. I strongly believe that all charitable organizations must work together
for the collective good. This is the only way to make the world a better
place – we MUST all become friends and partner-up!! That is why I have
served, or currently serve, on many other non-profit boards and committees.
They are:
Communications Committee for American Cancer Society Chicago; Associates
Board of Gilda’s Club Chicago; Associates Board of Lynn Sage Cancer Research
Foundation of Northwestern Memorial Foundation; Associates Board of Bear
Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation; Associates Board of Kid Power; Associates
Board of A Silver Lining Foundation; Auxiliary Board of the Center for Independent
Futures; Executive Board of Right Angle Educational Foundation; Associates Board
of Chicago Gateway Green; Annual Event Committee of the Young Leadership Division
of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; Membership Committee of the
Greater North Michigan Avenue Association (GNMAA); Associates Committee and
Membership Committee of the Standard Club Chicago; Executive Board of the
BroadtreeAdventures Foundation; Junior Board of the Lookingglass Theatre Foundation;
Cranbrook Kingswood Alumni Association; Advisory Committee of the Alzheimer's
Foundation of America; Advisory Committee for Camp Kesem at Northwestern
University (camp for kids whose parents have had/have cancer); Advisory Board of Carolyn’s
Compassionate Children; Advisory Board of Voices of Survivors; Honorary Board of the H
Foundation (Goombay Bash for Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Hospital); Executive
Board of Jimmy Insulin (1on1 Diabetes Support!); Next Generation Leadership Advisory
Council (NGLAC) for Chicago Olympics 2016; Advisory Board for MyOncoFertility.org; -
JonnyImerman started following
User: GregP_WN