Michael and Mom both talk cancer, 2 views, 2 voices, a lot of passion
Hi! We are Michael and Ashlee, AKA “Michael and Mom”. We have been through a cancer diagnosis, chemo, radiation, a bone marrow transplant and more, all in the space of just over a year! We want to bring in you in to our story, share our inspirational moments, our struggles, our joys, our pain. Whether or not you have experienced cancer, we have all experienced life, and hopefully our messages will bring us closer together.
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Before cancer Michael was a regular, kind-of-extra-cool, athletic, college kid from Miami Beach. He was part of the Olympic Development Team for Windsurfing, along with his older brother, Steven. They grew up in the ocean, surfing and even traveled the world going to windsurfing competitions. Ashlee, a single mom of 3 (amazing!) kids, Steven, Michael and Jennifer, was an early childhood educator, teaching music and dance to the families in and around Miami. She was the creative director of Zumbini, a program she wrote for Zumba Fitness, and her life was all about her family and sharing music, dance and joy! When Michael was diagnosed with Hepatosplenic Lymphoma in July of 2020, their world stopped. But the family decided to share the story, hoping to inspire others, to maybe raise awareness, to take this tragedy and make it a matter. They have been constantly been reminded of so many of life’s lessons and want to take this time to share the laughter, the love, the light they have received from the most unexpected places. We are all in this together. #strongertogether Read more
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A Very Late April Update, Raw Reminders, Mental Health, Magic and Miracles
Hello my dear, beautiful, I-am-out-of-adjectives-for-how-amazing-you-are friends and family, I’m a bit behind in filling you in on our month of April. We are nearly at the end of May and I am still struggling to find all the words. The right words. I am not looking for pity or sympathy as I write this, everyone…
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A March Update: new knee, new rap, chronic GVHD, fertility, and more lessons…..
March, 2024 I am a little behind for a “March” update, it is already mid-April….. Our days seem to be both busy and quiet, full but contained, continuing to move forward, even as we sometimes falter and struggle with the feeling of being stuck, or suspended in time. March picked up where February left off,…
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February 2024, Groundhog Day for Michael…..
Update February, 2024 In the past few months I have often wondered if I should perhaps stop writing these updates, if my monthly communication may be an extra burden for you to bear, if it seems that I am complaining or rattling on and on….. (and on…..) Our journey with cancer, BMT, complications has been…
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The Chacha after the Knee Replacement
Update January, 2024 To my dear, beautiful, friends and family who I appreciate, cherish and cannot imagine what I would do without your unending-love-and-support, It is time to fill you in yet again, those of you who are still reading these messages…..January was another month of our chacha, another month of forward and back, dancing…
December 2023, a colorful, FULL, month, changing how we see the world
Happy 2024 to you, my everlasting friends and family, my connection to the world outside of cancer and hospitals, my sometimes quiet but always present support system, the people I hold close to my heart, even though you may not realize how much I appreciate you. December. Wow. It was a full month with so…
November 2023, the chacha continues
To my dear, beautiful, tenacious, steadfast, patient, kind friends and forever family, I am overdue for my November update. The last couple of weeks have been full, a little off of our expected plans and path, and we can hear the faint but distinct music of our chacha…..back and forward and back again. The distant…
Michael and Mom Talk Cancer 