In 1997, at 28, Kevin Kelly was an involved basketball coach in Philadelphia. He wasn’t a coach who ‘played around’ he was known for his win-at-all-costs mentality, he explained that he treated every game as a ‘life or death’ matter. Being able to handle high stress situations like this, feeling sick once or twice didn’t change much for him. However, after several days of feeling sick and finally experiencing severe flu-like illness at a basketball game led to the emergency room. The tests revealed an unusually high white blood cell count, eventually leading to a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). What is Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia? Leukemia is a cancer originating in the bone marrow's blood-forming cells. In CML, these abnormal cells don't mature correctly and fail to perform their functions, such as fighting infection. They also have a longer lifespan, accumulating and crowding out healthy cells in the bone marrow. As a chronic leukemia, CML progresses slower than acute forms, often presenting no symptoms for months or even years before diagnosis, as was the case for Kevin. Treatment and Its Obstacles At the time of the diagnosis, doctors had considered a bone marrow or stem cell transplant as the most effective treatment for CML. Fortunately, Kevin's brother was a match, and the transplant proceeded. However, his recovery was far from smooth. What was expected to be a 30-day in-hospital recovery stretched to 54 days due to complications, many of which were spent in isolation. This challenging period consumed the first year of their marriage. "That was the scariest part for me," Kevin recalled, "That it wasn’t just me this was affecting, now it was my wife, too." Kevin channelled his coaching mindset into his battle with cancer. He took up the challenge and decided he would teach cancer a lesson. With his analytical skills, working closely with his cancer care team to understand lab results, participate in treatment decisions, and strategize his recovery. "I attacked cancer like a coach," he explained. "Whatever they throw at me, I’m going to figure out how to beat it, how to dodge it, and I’m going to work hard." Advocating and Inspiring Others Having faced over two decades of cancer treatments and setbacks, Kevin understands the overwhelming nature of a cancer diagnosis. He remains meticulous about his care, stating, "I’m very strict. I make sure I don’t miss appointments or doses. I’m working the playbook." He strongly advises others facing cancer to actively learn and understand their condition to make informed decisions about their treatment. Kevin and his family are committed to giving back. For years, he has been an active supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program, organizing fundraising events and hosting toy drives for children battling cancer. "It’s important for me to give back, and I want to do that by educating my students about cancer and the importance of research," he stated. "We can work together as a team to create a future free from cancer when we raise awareness and fund cancer research."