We meet Mitch McPherson, a Georgia law enforcement officer who was diagnosed with high risk myelofibrosis in February 2025. His symptoms began months earlier with fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and facial tingling. Mitch learned that a stem cell transplant offered his best path forward, but his doctors worried that finding a young, fully matched donor could be difficult.
Within days, Mitch received unexpected news. Multiple donors were perfect 10 out of 10 matches. The first donor could not meet the required schedule, but a second donor, a 26 year-old woman from the United States, agreed to proceed. Mitch also received support from DKMS and members of his sheriff’s department, who organized a donor registration drive.
Before the transplant, Mitch took Vonjo to reduce the risk of his disease progressing to leukemia. He then completed five days of intensive chemotherapy and received his stem cell transplant on June 11, 2025. Due to his fitness. he tolerated intense chemotherapy better than he expected, but the effects became more difficult during the following weeks. At one point, he took about 27 pills twice a day.
Mitch later developed Graft Versus Host Disease, or GvHD. It caused mouth pain, dry eyes, itching, fatigue, weakness, altered taste, and difficulty eating. Foods with vinegar burned his mouth, while soft foods, dairy, fruit, baked potatoes, and bean burritos were easier to tolerate. The illness also reduced his strength so severely that he had to begin rebuilding muscle with five pound dumbbells.
His recovery became harder because he returned to work far earlier than his doctors recommended. He later developed pneumonia and a blood clot in his lung. His doctors then removed him from work for six months. Mitch says the experience changed his outlook and revealed which relationships were dependable.
Faith remained central throughout his journey. Interestingly, a year before his diagnosis, Mitch dreamed that Jesus told him he would become sick, but would be okay. That message gave him confidence during his diagnosis, donor search, transplant, and complications.
Mitch’s strongest advice is simple. We should not try to prove our toughness by ignoring medical guidance. When doctors tell us to rest and allow the body to heal, we need to listen. Mitch now focuses on recovery while finding new outlets through fishing, a possible YouTube channel, and songwriting.
Thank you to our Season 21 Sponsors:
Incyte: https://incyte.com/
Sanofi: https://www.sanofi.com/
(00:00) Intro
(01:33) Symptoms and Myelofibrosis Diagnosis
(03:51) Multiple Perfect Donor Matches
(05:46) Medication, Chemotherapy, and Transplant Preparation
(08:43) Living With GvHD
(11:27) Support, Isolation, and Changing Relationships
(13:44) The Dream That Gave Mitch Hope
(16:52) Returning to Law Enforcement After Transplant
(20:22) Recovery, Mental Health, and Ongoing Treatment
(23:17) Mitch’s Advice for Transplant Patients
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.
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This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is crucial to consult directly with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical conditions, treatment options, or other health concerns.
The views and opinions expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the nbmtLINK. Unless otherwise stated in an official policy, the nbmtLINK does not endorse any specific treatments, products, or services mentioned by the speakers. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.
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