Furnishings Trade Veteran Michael Burton Shares His Healthcare Journey at Metropolis of Hope

Michael Burton, a seasoned veteran of the house furnishings {industry} and vp of gross sales for Uniters North
America, has spent many years constructing a profession outlined by perseverance and dedication. But, it wasn’t till he
confronted essentially the most formidable problem of his life — a prognosis of diffuse massive B-cell lymphoma — that he
actually found the depths of his resilience.

Recognized to buddies and colleagues as “Miracle Mike,” Burton’s journey is considered one of hope, willpower, and the cutting-edge
medical trial of auto stem cell transplant adopted by CAR T-cell transplant two days
later, a breakthrough therapy that has redefined his story.

A Well being Disaster Hidden in Plain Sight

Earlier than his prognosis, Burton’s life was an lively one. Even throughout the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he
continued to stroll 5 miles every day and steadiness a demanding profession from dwelling. However by October 2021, one thing felt
off. What started as a persistent ache on his proper aspect led to months of medical consultations and inconclusive
diagnoses. It wasn’t till early 2022, after escalating ache and a sequence of scans, that medical doctors recognized
the true subject: aggressive diffuse massive B-cell lymphoma.

Burton’s situation quickly worsened. By March 2022, he was gravely unwell, within the emergency room with extreme
vomiting for twenty-four hours. Two months later, he was again within the ER after heavy inside bleeding following chemotherapy.
Docs suggested him to get his affairs so as. However Burton, a fighter at coronary heart, wasn’t prepared to surrender.

The Turning Level

Preliminary rounds of chemotherapy and radiation for 10 months offered some aid however weren’t sufficient to cease the
most cancers’s advance. Throughout a short interval of remission, a mass appeared on his neck in late 2022, and additional
problems led Burton to hunt care at College of California, Irvine in January 2023.

After grueling periods of chemotherapy for 3 months, he was declared in remission and regarded a candidate for
a stem cell transplant. Nevertheless, insurance coverage hurdles delayed the process, and a brand new mass of unknown origin developed
in his left lung.

Burton turned to Metropolis of Hope, a world-renowned most cancers therapy and analysis middle with which he already had a deep
private connection. Early in his profession at Parkview Furnishings, Burton’s household had supported Metropolis of
Hope’s fundraising initiatives, and his father-in-law, Larry Brooks, had been honored by the Worldwide
House Furnishings Trade group and Metropolis of Hope. Burton’s youthful brother had misplaced his battle to leukemia,
leaving an enduring impression on his household’s dedication to advancing most cancers analysis.

A Daring Determination: The World’s First, Again-to-Again Transplants

At Metropolis of Hope in Duarte, California, Burton met with Drs. Matthew Mei, Avyakta Kallam, and John Baird, who
offered a groundbreaking alternative — a trial by no means carried out earlier than: back-to-back stem cell transplant with a
time-advanced introduction of CAR T-cell remedy. This revolutionary therapy entails harvesting a affected person’s
T cells and dividing them into two teams.

The primary group is used for “auto”
(personal cells) stem cell transplant. The second group, the CAR T cells, is genetically modified in a
lab to higher goal cancerous cells. Sufferers bear chemotherapy between the cell harvesting and reinfusion
phases to offer the bone marrow a clear slate so when the stem cells are reintroduced into the physique, they rebuild
with disease-free bone marrow cells and hunt most cancers. The CAR-T cells are a extra aggressive most cancers hunter. Sometimes,
there are months between the introduction of those two remedies. However Burton’s case was distinctive — the
total process, together with reinfusion, was accomplished inside simply two days of the stem cell transplants, a primary for
this medical trial.

For Burton, the choice was clear. Regardless of his spouse’s preliminary hesitation about collaborating on this dangerous
trial, he considered it as an opportunity to combat again and contribute to a larger trigger. With out therapy “I had a
dying sentence,” Burton recalled. “To me, I used to be going to throw every little thing at it and combat. I figured if
I might assist someone, no matter my end result, nice.”

Within the first six days of August 2023, Burton went by way of an intense spherical of chemotherapy for that clear slate. On
August 7, his stem cells, harvested again in June, had been infused/transplanted. Two days later, August 9, the CAR T
cells had been infused/transplanted. The following three weeks had been spent within the hospital underneath shut remark. Practically 18
months later, Burton stays in remission.

Full Circle: A Legacy of Hope

Earlier this yr, Burton attended a reunion at Metropolis of Hope, the place he met the primary toddler to bear a stem cell
transplant. The kid, now a thriving grownup, was a poignant reminder of the progress made in most cancers therapy and
the lives saved by way of groundbreaking analysis.

Reflecting on his journey, Burton holds no bitterness concerning the preliminary misdiagnoses that delayed his therapy.
“I really feel prefer it occurred for a cause,” he mentioned. “It put me on the trail to Metropolis of Hope. It’s
merely indescribable how they care for you. The individuals there are God’s angels.”

Burton’s story is multiple of survival; it’s a testomony to the ability of innovation, neighborhood, and
the human spirit. His determination to bear this world’s first and solely back-to-back stem cell transplants then
CAR T-cell remedy not solely saved his life but in addition contributed beneficial information to a therapy that might sooner or later remedy
others.

“There’s a much bigger which means for this,” Burton mentioned. “The hope is we stay one other day to discover a
remedy tomorrow.”

Michael Burton’s unwavering willpower and willingness to embrace the unknown embody the mission of Metropolis of
Hope. His journey, stuffed with challenges and triumphs, stands as a beacon of inspiration for anybody confronting the
unthinkable.

The
Worldwide
House Furnishings Trade
(IHFI) group shaped in 1965 is considered one of Metropolis of Hope’s first
industry-based chapters and premier fundraising teams that encompasses retailers, producers, gross sales
representatives, suppliers and related service suppliers. It has raised over $100 million and honored
some
of essentially the most influential figures within the {industry} by way of two flagship occasions, Spirit of Life Awards and West
Coast Golf & Tennis Event. To be taught extra about easy methods to help or register for these occasions,
contact
Loren Boyko at 626-222-9764, or ship an electronic mail to [email protected].

Metropolis of Hope is a Nationwide Most cancers Institute-designated
complete most cancers middle and a pacesetter in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy resembling CAR T cell
remedy. Metropolis of Hope’s translational analysis and customized therapy protocols have superior look after
individuals all through the world with most cancers, diabetes and different life-threatening illnesses.

Metropolis of Hope’s Worldwide House Furnishings Trade West Coast Golf, Tennis, and Pickleball Event is scheduled for Monday, June 9, 2025, in Coto de Caza, CA. Proceeds from the occasion will help Metropolis of Hope’s analysis, therapy developments, and affected person care applications. Jeff Youngster of R.C. Willey and Harold Hudson of Gabriella White/Summer time Classics/Gabby, will probably be honored as IHFI West Coast Lifetime Achievement recipients. For extra info and to register CLICK HERE.

About Metropolis of Hope 

Metropolis of Hope has grown into one of many largest and most
superior most cancers analysis and therapy organizations within the U.S., and one of many main analysis facilities for
diabetes and different life-threatening diseases. Metropolis of Hope analysis has been the idea for quite a few
breakthrough most cancers medicines, in addition to human artificial insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With
an impartial, Nationwide Most cancers Institute-designated complete most cancers middle that’s ranked prime 5 within the
nation
for most cancers care by U.S. Information & World Report at its core, Metropolis of Hope’s uniquely built-in mannequin
spans
most cancers care, analysis and improvement, lecturers and coaching, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its
work. Metropolis of Hope’s rising nationwide system consists of its Los Angeles campus, a community of medical care
places throughout Southern California, a brand new most cancers middle in Orange County, California, and most cancers therapy
facilities
and outpatient services within the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. Metropolis of Hope’s affiliated group of
organizations consists of Translational Genomics Analysis Institute
and AccessHope^TM. For extra
details about Metropolis of Hope, comply with us on Fb, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

About Worldwide House Furnishings Trade

 Impressed
by the guiding humanitarian rules of Metropolis of Hope, one of many largest most cancers analysis and therapy
organizations within the U.S. and a number one analysis middle for diabetes and different life-threatening diseases
and
motivated by the establishment’s dedication to progressive medical analysis and compassionate affected person care, a
group of
key {industry} executives based Metropolis of Hope’s Worldwide House Furnishings Trade (IHFI) group in
1965.

In its 50-plus-year historical past, the group has raised over $100 million for Metropolis of Hope and has honored a few of the
most
influential figures within the dwelling furnishings {industry}. With a practice of uniting professionals from across the
world, IHFI represents a neighborhood of executives, professionals and colleagues in each phase of the house
furnishings class, together with retailers, producers, gross sales representatives, suppliers and related
service
suppliers.

The Spirit of Life Award is Metropolis of Hope’s most prestigious honor and is offered to an esteemed
neighborhood of {industry} leaders around the globe who’ve made a major dedication to enhancing the lives of
others by way of the development of analysis and medical innovation and the supply of customized,
compassionate
care.   

Previous honorees embrace Martin Ploy of AICO, Andrew Koenig of CITY Furnishings, Rick Anderson, Larry Klaben of Morris
Furnishings Co. Inc., Michael Amini, and Todd and Ron Wanek of Ashley Furnishings, to call a couple of.