“I’m living proof that even with a rare and serious diagnosis like myelofibrosis, there is hope. And that hope lives at Fox Chase.”‐Joseph Juhasz
I was 57 years old, healthy, and active when my life changed in a way I never expected. I’m the kind of person who rarely feels like they need to go to the doctor. I was working full-time, riding my bike regularly, and serving as a deacon in the Catholic Church. Cancer, or any serious illness, was the furthest thing from my mind.
Looking back, the signs were there. I started getting sick constantly. Colds, infections, even the flu, which I’d never had before. I developed a cough that lasted more than a year. I had night sweats, shortness of breath, no appetite, and I was losing weight fast. What I didn’t know at the time was that my spleen was enlarging because of an underlying blood disorder.
In May 2019, after a hospital admission and what felt like endless tests, including bloodwork, scans, and finally a bone marrow biopsy, I received my diagnosis: myelofibrosis, a rare, chronic blood cancer. Hearing those words was surreal. I was too young. I was too healthy. And suddenly, I was forced to ask myself a question I’d never had to consider before: Am I going to survive this?
Finding the Right Team
I was initially treated at St. Luke’s Hospital near my home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Through their close relationship with Fox Chase Cancer Center, I was referred for a second opinion with Dr. Henry Fung, Chair of the Blood Cancer and Cellular Therapy Institute at Fox Chase, a hematologist-oncologist with extensive expertise in myeloproliferative disorders.
That referral changed everything.
When I met Dr. Fung, he was patient. He explained my diagnosis clearly and honestly, walked me through my options, and helped me understand that a bone marrow transplant would be my best — and possibly only — chance for long-term survival. It was overwhelming, but I felt something I hadn’t felt since my diagnosis: confidence.
From that moment on, Fox Chase became my lifeline.
The Road to Transplant
Preparing for a bone marrow transplant is no small task. In the fall of 2019, I underwent a course of radiation therapy to shrink my enlarged spleen and prepare my body for transplant. I also required frequent blood transfusions just to keep my body functioning.
In February 2020, I was admitted to Fox Chase for my transplant. The timing couldn’t have been more surreal. While I was in the hospital, the world was changing: COVID-19 was emerging, hospitals were locking down, and life as we knew it was coming to a halt.
My hospital stay lasted 40 days. I had no immune system. My blood counts dropped to nearly zero. I was weak, sick, and completely dependent on others. It was, without question, the hardest physical and emotional experience of my life.
But I was never alone.
Compassion That Made the Difference
From the physicians to the nurses, nurse navigators, and support staff, the care I received at Fox Chase was extraordinary. Dr. Fung led my care with expertise and compassion, always listening and always answering my questions. Karen Palmer, my nurse navigator, became an anchor, helping coordinate appointments, manage insurance issues, and keeping everything moving forward when I didn’t have the energy to do it myself.
During my transplant, award-winning nurses like Rachel Thomas went far beyond clinical care. She explained things in plain language, sat with me when I was scared, and even rubbed my back when I was sick.
Even the small moments mattered. The environmental services staff member who cleaned my room every day became someone I looked forward to seeing. Those human connections helped carry me through my darkest days.
Fox Chase didn’t just function well—it functioned with heart.
A Second Chance at Life
My transplant was made possible by an incredible gift: my son was my donor. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today.
Recovery was slow. I had to relearn how to build strength, wait years to be able to receive immunizations again, and live cautiously while my immune system rebuilt itself. COVID made everything harder, limiting my ability to see family, return to ministry, or resume normal life.
But slowly, things improved.
Today, I’m 64 years old and feel better than I have in decades. I’m back on my bike. I’m lifting weights. I’m spending time with my family, including my grandchildren, moments I might never have had without my bone marrow transplant at Fox Chase.
Looking Back—and Forward
Cancer strips away your sense of control. It forces you to rely on others and confront what truly matters. My advice to anyone facing a diagnosis like mine is simple: Ask questions. Listen to your doctors. Be honest — with them and with yourself. And trust the team caring for you.
At Fox Chase, that team became like family. I know I’m an outlier. Not everyone gets the outcome I did. That’s why I’m so grateful — for the science, the skill, and the humanity that saved my life.
I’m living proof that even with a rare and serious diagnosis like myelofibrosis, there is hope. And that hope lives at Fox Chase.
Learn more about treatment for blood cancer at Fox Chase Cancer Center.