• Home
• About Us
• Schedules
• Membership
• Programs & Services
• ChildWatch
• Volunteer Opportunities
• The Campus
• Ways to Give
• HLC Blog
• Contact Us
• eNewsletter Sign Up
• Facility Hours

HLC Blog

Y Partners Campaign... A Member's Journey

Cancer Survivors and Caregivers Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro | Main Page | Teen group makes Partner's Donation

How does the Y Partners campaign and financial assistance impact someone's life?  Read Jonathan Miller's personal story...

My name is Jonathan Miller and I am 26 years old. I have always lived locally in the metro area during this time.   I grew up loving Colorado for its downhill skiing and Iowa for its soccer, rugby and RAGBRIA. I attended Iowa State for two years, but my love for working outdoors led me to employment in the landscaping and tree maintenance area before completing college. My world changed on August 8, 2010. On that day I received a call that my mother had been injured while helping my Grandmother fix up her home in northern Nebraska. My mom had fallen from a ladder and shattered a vertebrae in her back and broke a bone in her leg. She was being airlifted from the Yankton, South Dakota, and hospital to Sioux City for better trauma treatment. I was with my girlfriend at the time I was called. We left immediately for the Sioux City. Approximately an hour from Sioux City my left side rapidly started becoming numb. My girlfriend helped me from the driver's side and took me to the emergency room in the hospital where my mother was. It was determined that I had testicular cancer which had metastasized throughout my pelvis, abdomen, and chest and to my brain. The numbness was being caused by a tumor that had hemorrhaged in my head. Later that night a craniotomy was needed to stop the bleeding and to remove the tumor. The effect on my body was that of a stroke.  My family was told that I had very advanced late stage IV cancer. They offered the University of Iowa Hospital as a possible source of help, but due to my condition, there in Sioux City, they could only try to make me comfortable and wait. After contact with The University of Iowa Hospital, I was airlifted to Iowa City for treatment to begin. I was given a 15 to 20 percent chance of surviving the treatment. My Dad has told me that my reaction to those odds was, "that's not that bad".

Over the next five months the fantastic medical teams were able to maintain my life and provide three sessions of chemotherapy hoping for a cure. The medical treatment, coupled with physical, occupational, and speech therapy, were all moving me forward. I was able to celebrate Christmas of  2010 at home with my family, which was a true gift. Shortly after the first of the new year, testing indicated the cancer was returning.  As an only option, we moved forward with a planned two autologous bone marrow/stem cell transplants with high dose chemotherapy; each of which required from four to five weeks of hospitalization.  Prior to starting the transplants, it was determined that full brain radiation was also needed due to other tumor activity there. Radiation consisted of a fifteen day treatment schedule over a twenty one day period.

My greatest hope, as shared by my family, is that this cancer is fully beaten. Between the cancer itself and the treatments required, my body has been left with a paralysis on the left side and with eye sight and hearing being diminished. A positive side of my journey has been the people I have been fortunate to meet. Their care, support, encouragement, and just being there has meant so much.

Over the last several months, I have been part of the "Livestrong", a program of the YMCA and the Lance Armstrong Foundation at the Healthy Living Center. With the financial help of the Y, I have been able to become a member which has given me access to the equipment that I can use to continue the process of rebuilding my body. The functional electric stimulation bike (FES), water therapy, and strengthening equipment have truly helped in moving forward.  The Y also has an indoor track which I have used with the help of a great physical therapist.  One day in late December, he tossed out a suggestion, or maybe a challenge, that I should consider keeping track of my laps with the goal of completing a marathon (26.2) miles. After thinking a bit and doing a little math, that would mean 262 laps. After a day or so, it really seemed doable as well as a motivating thought. So the walking began in conjunction with and yet a part from my regular therapy. At the start, each lap was a long trip requiring strong concentration to maintain stability. As the days have passed my strength has been improving allowing two laps without rest and up to a total of five laps on the same day. Now at the time of writing, I have completed 66 laps towards my quest.

As I look back over the last couple of months I feel fortunate to have gained so much strength and ability with the help of the Y staff. When I first came here, my wheelchair was my mode for getting around from point A to point B, both here and for daily life. At present I am able to get around under the power of my own body with the help of a cane for almost all activities. Gaining this independence makes life brighter.

I would like to pass along a thank you to all the workforce at the Y. Each and everyone have always made me feel welcome and a part of their family. Additionally, a thank you to the Y members, who have come up to me to give encouragement and to show they care. If I can be of any help to those reading this writing, I would be more than happy to help any of you in getting started on a similar adventure;  be it on the track or in some other fashion. It does help and is motivating to have marked stepping stones to follow during our recoveries.

Wishing all of you the best: Jonathan Miller

Feb 20, 2012 8:31 PM |Add a comment |Comments (1)