Vince Mealy, who was undergoing treatment for cancer, has been safely transported to the Cleveland Clinic. He is resting comfortably and feeling pretty well, he said.
On Jan. 21, Mealy received word from the doctor the initial chemotherapy treatment reduced the bone marrow cancer from 22 percent to 10 percent. That is not enough to consider it to be in remission. At that point his doctor was consulting with the Cleveland Clinic on how to proceed.
That same day it was decided that as soon as a bed was available he would be transported to the clinic, where he will receive further testing and prepare for a bone marrow transplant.
That requires finding a donor.
"I feel blessed we have Cleveland Clinic right up the road,” said Mealy. “Physically, my focus is going to be on preparing my body to withstand whatever treatments are thrown at me and be prepared for the recovery process. Mentally, my recovery focus is going to be to continually pick goals to attain."
Mealy’s goal include being able to take a hike this spring, attend his son's first communion in May, attend his daughter's confirmation in May and her eighth grade graduation in June. He also wants to attend the first Springfield Lake concert this summer.
“Spiritually, I pray God will allow me to continue to serve Him here on earth,” he said, “But I am also accepting of God's will if otherwise."
He said now prayers are needed for an excellent bone marrow donor match be found and that the donor be willing to help him.
He thanked the community for the outpouring of concern, support and prayers.
“God bless you all," he said.
Springfield TWP, Ohio —
