SOM / MDOT Team JC
Donation protected
Kirsten Cole has serviced MDOT in OHR (Civil Service) for the past 20 years and has been excited to officially be an MDOT employee as Field Service's Personal Liaison in September of 2019. As many of our work family knows Kirsten's son Justin was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2016 and recently relapsed in November 2019. Justin will be admitted to U of M early March and receive a bone marrow transplant on 3/18/2020.
The State of Michigan and specifically the MDOT Family is amazing. So many people have reached out to see what they can do and asked about donating. I (Michelle Nauta) will continue to collect money and hand it over to Kirsten- however, we thought that a Gofundme maybe an easier way to reach everyone. Thank you to everyone who has already donated.
Here is Justin's story:
Justin is a 15-year-old from Elsie Michigan battling B-Cell Acute Lymphoblasitc Leukemia. In 2016, while playing football he became weak dizzy and pale. He went to the emergency room and on the following day, September 11, 2016 was diagnosed at the age of 12.
In the coming days, a chemo port would be placed and doctors would decide their treatment plan. In the coming weeks and months, chemotherapy drugs would fight Justin’s leukemia, and eventually, following the doctors’ plan, put him into remission. However, B-ALL isn’t easy or quick to beat. It’s a long journey that takes almost four years to complete treatment. Getting Justin to remission took less than the first year. Keeping him in remission was chemotherapy’s goal for the rest of the four year treatment plan.
Justin wasn’t able to attend school for 6th grade because of the risk of germs. Public outings, school days and sporting events, and even friends and family gatherings had to be sacrificed to keep the germs and infection away.
Overall, treatments went well and Justin was able to return to school in the fall of 2017 for 7th grade. He couldn’t play football, but he was on the sidelines, assisting his team’s coach and enjoying his team’s comradery.
Fast forward another year to the fall of 2018 and Justin got clearance to play football! Put in place was extra padding as a precautionary to protect his chemo port, and some emotionally vested lineman to protect their quarterback.
In November of 2019, as the final countdown to being cancer free was finally under the last one hundred days away, Justin experienced back pain that escalated quickly and again was rushed to the emergency room. On November 9, 2019, at the age of 15, it was confirmed that his leukemia had relapsed.
The new plan of attack currently in play is intense chemotherapy with a bone marrow transplant in the upcoming weeks at U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Over the last 3 ½ years, Justin has proven to be a fighter. And, behind every amazing fighter, is an amazing support system of family and friends.
Justin is the son of Josh and Kirsten Cole. He has a sister, Vivian, a freshman in college, and a sister, Evalyn, in 8th grade at O-E. For more updates and information on Justin’s story you can follow his Facebook page, “Team JC.”
The State of Michigan and specifically the MDOT Family is amazing. So many people have reached out to see what they can do and asked about donating. I (Michelle Nauta) will continue to collect money and hand it over to Kirsten- however, we thought that a Gofundme maybe an easier way to reach everyone. Thank you to everyone who has already donated.
Here is Justin's story:
Justin is a 15-year-old from Elsie Michigan battling B-Cell Acute Lymphoblasitc Leukemia. In 2016, while playing football he became weak dizzy and pale. He went to the emergency room and on the following day, September 11, 2016 was diagnosed at the age of 12.
In the coming days, a chemo port would be placed and doctors would decide their treatment plan. In the coming weeks and months, chemotherapy drugs would fight Justin’s leukemia, and eventually, following the doctors’ plan, put him into remission. However, B-ALL isn’t easy or quick to beat. It’s a long journey that takes almost four years to complete treatment. Getting Justin to remission took less than the first year. Keeping him in remission was chemotherapy’s goal for the rest of the four year treatment plan.
Justin wasn’t able to attend school for 6th grade because of the risk of germs. Public outings, school days and sporting events, and even friends and family gatherings had to be sacrificed to keep the germs and infection away.
Overall, treatments went well and Justin was able to return to school in the fall of 2017 for 7th grade. He couldn’t play football, but he was on the sidelines, assisting his team’s coach and enjoying his team’s comradery.
Fast forward another year to the fall of 2018 and Justin got clearance to play football! Put in place was extra padding as a precautionary to protect his chemo port, and some emotionally vested lineman to protect their quarterback.
In November of 2019, as the final countdown to being cancer free was finally under the last one hundred days away, Justin experienced back pain that escalated quickly and again was rushed to the emergency room. On November 9, 2019, at the age of 15, it was confirmed that his leukemia had relapsed.
The new plan of attack currently in play is intense chemotherapy with a bone marrow transplant in the upcoming weeks at U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Over the last 3 ½ years, Justin has proven to be a fighter. And, behind every amazing fighter, is an amazing support system of family and friends.
Justin is the son of Josh and Kirsten Cole. He has a sister, Vivian, a freshman in college, and a sister, Evalyn, in 8th grade at O-E. For more updates and information on Justin’s story you can follow his Facebook page, “Team JC.”
Organizer
Michelle Nauta
Organizer
Lansing, MI