Michael Spivey Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Donation protected
Michael Spivey, the 49 year old father of our beautiful 16 and 17 year old daughters, was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) on Monday, July 20, 2020. His only obvious symptom is a recently swollen neck that turned out to be a tumor in his tonsil. He otherwise feels fit as a fiddle and happy as a clam.
If you are like me and had not heard of Mantle Cell Lymphoma until now, you don't know that it's rare and its typical victim is male, average age +-65 (i.e. much older than Michael). From what we know so far, which is not much, there is no clear genetic, environmental, behavioral, or other reason for its attack. Treatment options vary widely, can be difficult to prescribe & select, and many of them are aggressive with severe toxicity and side affects. Prognosis is unclear at this point, so I will refrain from quoting the internet or guessing.
MCL is rare enough that many oncologists only see 1-2 cases in their entire careers. Encouragingly, Mantle Cell Lymphoma experts exist and have made significant advancements in treatment over the last 20 years. Various clinical trials are ongoing at top cancer hospitals. One expert - Dr. Wang at MD Anderson - is working to find a cure in the not-so-distant 5-10 year future! https://www.mdanderson.org/cancermoonshots/about/our-physicians-researchers/m-wang.html
Michael is scheduled to see Dr. Wang next week. He will be at MD Anderson in Houston for 3-5 days for an initial consult.
So far Michael has undergone a whirlwind of sometimes unpleasant and time consuming tests, has had many conversations with his Oncologist, and has begun digesting an overwhelming amount of information. He has felt well cared for by his team of physicians, nurses, lab techs and all of the other professionals in the hospital systems he has visited in Atlanta. He particularly likes & trusts his Oncologist here. He is hopeful that most or all of his treatment can take place in Atlanta. However, depending on his treatment plan, some drugs may not be available here. We do not no yet how often or for what durations Michael will need to be in Houston.
Michael is a Gwinnett County Middle School Teacher and dedicated year-round youth soccer coach. He is the unmarried father of two teenage girls. He does not have much room in his well-managed budget to pay for healthcare, much less to pay for travel to Houston or sustain himself during a period of unemployment. Please consider donating to support his fight
. He will use donated funds to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses, travel expenses for medical care, and to supplement his income if he becomes unable to work for a period of time.
Michael is was born in Fort Walton Beach, FL in 1971. He moved many times with his mom (Margaret) and late father (Lonnie) until the end of Lonnie's impressive career in the Air Force, then came full circle and graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach in 1989. He played soccer for and graduated from the University of West Florida then moved to Atlanta where he has lived ever since. He married me, had some babies, then we divorced amicably after 10 years. His second marriage to Christie Mathis (also from Fort Walton Beach) ended recently after 8 years. We all remain a loving and respectful family and care about each other very much. Michael is younger by 18 years than his brother (Rob, wife Kay) and by 16 years compared to his sister (Diana), who live in Montgomery and Pensacola respectively. He has several nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and -nephews, all of which he enjoys seeing frequently at his mom's house in Fort Walton Beach.
We appreciate any and all prayers, good vibes, and check-ins offering encouragement. Personally, I want him healthy, enjoying life, and around for a long long time to come.
Also visit for updates: https://www.caringbridge.org/public/michaeldspivey
If you are like me and had not heard of Mantle Cell Lymphoma until now, you don't know that it's rare and its typical victim is male, average age +-65 (i.e. much older than Michael). From what we know so far, which is not much, there is no clear genetic, environmental, behavioral, or other reason for its attack. Treatment options vary widely, can be difficult to prescribe & select, and many of them are aggressive with severe toxicity and side affects. Prognosis is unclear at this point, so I will refrain from quoting the internet or guessing.
MCL is rare enough that many oncologists only see 1-2 cases in their entire careers. Encouragingly, Mantle Cell Lymphoma experts exist and have made significant advancements in treatment over the last 20 years. Various clinical trials are ongoing at top cancer hospitals. One expert - Dr. Wang at MD Anderson - is working to find a cure in the not-so-distant 5-10 year future! https://www.mdanderson.org/cancermoonshots/about/our-physicians-researchers/m-wang.html
Michael is scheduled to see Dr. Wang next week. He will be at MD Anderson in Houston for 3-5 days for an initial consult.
So far Michael has undergone a whirlwind of sometimes unpleasant and time consuming tests, has had many conversations with his Oncologist, and has begun digesting an overwhelming amount of information. He has felt well cared for by his team of physicians, nurses, lab techs and all of the other professionals in the hospital systems he has visited in Atlanta. He particularly likes & trusts his Oncologist here. He is hopeful that most or all of his treatment can take place in Atlanta. However, depending on his treatment plan, some drugs may not be available here. We do not no yet how often or for what durations Michael will need to be in Houston.
Michael is a Gwinnett County Middle School Teacher and dedicated year-round youth soccer coach. He is the unmarried father of two teenage girls. He does not have much room in his well-managed budget to pay for healthcare, much less to pay for travel to Houston or sustain himself during a period of unemployment. Please consider donating to support his fight
. He will use donated funds to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses, travel expenses for medical care, and to supplement his income if he becomes unable to work for a period of time.
Michael is was born in Fort Walton Beach, FL in 1971. He moved many times with his mom (Margaret) and late father (Lonnie) until the end of Lonnie's impressive career in the Air Force, then came full circle and graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach in 1989. He played soccer for and graduated from the University of West Florida then moved to Atlanta where he has lived ever since. He married me, had some babies, then we divorced amicably after 10 years. His second marriage to Christie Mathis (also from Fort Walton Beach) ended recently after 8 years. We all remain a loving and respectful family and care about each other very much. Michael is younger by 18 years than his brother (Rob, wife Kay) and by 16 years compared to his sister (Diana), who live in Montgomery and Pensacola respectively. He has several nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and -nephews, all of which he enjoys seeing frequently at his mom's house in Fort Walton Beach.
We appreciate any and all prayers, good vibes, and check-ins offering encouragement. Personally, I want him healthy, enjoying life, and around for a long long time to come.
Also visit for updates: https://www.caringbridge.org/public/michaeldspivey
Organizer
Marci Spivey
Organizer
Atlanta, GA