OMG.

One of my DEAREST cycling friends was saved by Gleevac. When we met him, he was a shell of a man. Near death. Gray, thin, feeble. There was no match for bone marrow and no cure for his CML. He started the then-experimental treatment (in 2001) and went on to complete several centuries with us. (I understand that the research for Gleevac was funded to some extent by Leukemia Society funds, which is significant to us because over the years our family has raised over $50,000 for TNT as well as supporting the fundraising efforts of those we've coached.)

Anyway, back to Phil. This man is so wonderful that while listening to him spin a tale during the Tahoe century in 2002 or 2003 (he often sang while we rode), I became so distracted I rode into a pole!

Unfortunately, last year, Gleevac started losing its effect on him (BAD), but it gave time for him to finally find a bone marrow match (GOOD!). He's recovering slowly now. A BMT is by no means an easy road. Anyway, that Gleevac saved his life and gave him 6 - 7 YEARS of being what I deemed a "stud muffin".

Thank you, Possegal. I'm tearing up a bit as I write this. Thanks for giving us Phil back.