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Flathead student braves life-threatening illness
Senior John-Michael Myers stays strong during therapy for Hodgkin's disease

  KC McBroom - Arrow Staff

Senior John-Michael Myers, now residingin Seattle at the Ronald McDonald House, seeks cancer treatment, for a disease that has interrupted the last half of his senior year.

   Most people feel defeated when they hear 'cancer'," said chemistry teacher Todd Morstein, a cancer survivor. But not senior John Michael Myers. Myers recently found out that he has Hodgkin's disease, or cancer of the lymph system.

   It began when Myers noticed an abnormal lump before Christmas. His doctor assured him it was nothing serious, until it grew. They thought it was a hernia and he went in for surgery. It was then that they discovered a swollen lymph node.

   Myers was in stage 4 of Hodgkin's, meaning it has spread throughout his torso and his right lung. Though this may sound grim, his outlook is very good. The disease has a cure rate of over 90 percent.

   "I think this worries other people more than me," said Myers. "I just have to deal with it."

   Myers began chemotherapy in Seattle in February. For treatment, Myers has to be within one hour of a major medical center. He will be there for three months and then will be back in Kalispell if 70 percent of the cancer is gone.

   "The hard part is having to stop my life," said Myers. "When I first found out about it I was just kind of ticked off. You don't think about getting cancer at 17."

   The chemotherapy includes both pills and intravenous drugs. He now has a permanent tube in his body for administering drugs.

   "Every night we line up the pills," said Myers.

   Because of the chemotherapy, he is not allowed to eat certain foods, including chocolate, peanut butter, and Parmesan cheese. He said he was only nauseous after the first treatment.

   Myers is taking three classes by correspondence, and if all goes well he will be back in Kalispell for graduation.

   "He's not going to let something like this shut him down," said friend and neighbor Kali Mues.

   "It's unfortunate that this had to happen to him at this time in his life," said friend David Palchak. "It was clear how important this last year of high school has been for him."

   To help out Myers' family, the National Honor Society began a campaign to raise $1 from every student and teacher at the high school for John Michael.

   By the end of their fundraiser they had raised $2,436 to go directly to Myers' family.

   Another fundraiser began with a silent auction of donated CDs, which is taking place in the publications office in room H-10. All proceeds go to Myers' family.

   Friends of John Michael are confident he'll recover, including Mues.

   "If you could pick out one person at Flathead High School that could handle this situation," she said, "It would be John Michael Myers."

   "I couldn't even imagine missing the last half of my senior year," said friend AJ Nash. "I know if I did I definitely wouldn't handle it as well as John Michael. He's a stud.
   "He is definitely an inspiration."