Joey Did Good

Joey Cialkowski, from Park Ridge, NJ, has been fighting leukemia since he was 5 years old. He was my honored patient in 2003 when I was coaching the Alaska team. He was in remission for several years but unfortunately, the very treatment that saved his life then led directly to the developing of a brain tumor.

He fought that off, but got another bought of brain cancer this year. He came out of surgery in February but was not given a good prognosis by his doctors. They haven't given Joey or his family much hope.

On the Sunday evening after the kickoff, I got a call from Pat Beck, our walking coach, who has been very close to Joey over these years. Arlene, Joey's mum, had called and said that at Joey's most recent check-up, the doctors said that he his tumor had reduced in size by 80%. It is no longer putting pressure on his spinal cord. It is wonderful news. The doctors were amazed.

The tumor is still carcinogenic. It is not begin. But we should celebrate along with Joey every piece of good news.

If you are a Team In Training athlete, or indeed, any cancer charity athlete, please think of Joey's fight and honor it in your way.

I'll try to keep you updated on his progress, and we all hope for the best.

"They were nothing more than people, by themselves. Even paired, any pairing, they would have been nothing more than people by themselves. But all together, they have become the heart and muscles and mind of something perilous and new, something strange and growing and great. Together, all together, they are the instruments of change". - Keri Hulme, The Bone People