Celebrating Life: The Heart Behind Angel and Diesel: A Change in Family Plans

A very special project, Angel and Diesel: A Change in Family Plans, is finally becoming available to the world on April 20, 2026 with Barnes & Noble. While it is a fun children’s book about two clever dogs, the story behind why I wrote it is much deeper. It is a story about survival, a father’s love, and a seven-year-old boy who helped me choose life.

A Choice Between Two Paths

In December 2008, I received news that no one wants to hear. My autologous stem cell transplant—which followed two years of intense chemotherapy and ten grueling rounds of total body radiation—had failed.

On December 8th, I was given a choice. I could undergo a traditional bone marrow transplant with a very high probability of death, or I could start a two-year maintenance program that offered, at best, another 18 months of life after the treatment ended. My bone marrow specialist and my oncologist were at odds over which path I should take. In those moments, I thought of my son, my "best bud," who was only seven years old, and I made a decision. I chose to celebrate life.

(I would like to make something clear - my lymphoma was triggered during a knee surgery 9 years before my diagnosis. During that surgery, I underwent a blood transfusion. The surgery extended to 6 hours when it was expected to last 1 hour. The blood I received suppressed my immune system. There are many positives have come from my fight. God had me in the palm of His hands. My immune system took back over after all of my treatment. I am here today, 16 years outside of my last treatment, when that treatment was only expected to provide me with 2 more years of life. God has different plans. Here I am Lord. Thank you. I have not had treatment since. There is no cure, yet the medical profession has deemed me cured. God is amazing!)

The Magic of a Surprise

I decided to take my son to Disney World the week after Christmas. He had no idea. When I picked him up from his mother, we started driving, and I simply handed him the tickets in the car. The look of pure, stunned joy on his face is a memory I will carry forever.

When I called Disney to book the trip, they asked what we were celebrating. I told them the truth. The staff became very emotional, and they truly rolled out the red carpet for us. They showered my son with gifts and even placed a Christmas tree in our room. We were there to cherish every second we had together.

How Angel and Diesel Were Born

It was during that trip that my son came up with the idea for a children’s book. We spent our time together mapping out a storyline involving our two large dogs, Angel and Diesel. I worked on the illustrations, and he was the mastermind behind the plot.

The first edition we created years ago was a start, but it was not the quality I wanted for such a meaningful story. This past Christmas, I felt a stir to finally revise it. I was recovering from a major neck surgery—a direct result of my past cancer treatments—that required a titanium plate and three artificial discs.

Focusing on this book helped me through the healing process. It allowed me to focus on the wonderful memories I share with my son rather than the pain of recovery.

The Message of the Book

At its core, this book is about family. Sometimes, life forces a change in family plans. In this story, Diesel decides the family is stuck in a routine and takes it upon himself to show them how to truly spend their time together.

I am not publishing this for profit. Every bit of the net proceeds goes toward leukemia and lymphoma research. I want to help ensure other parents and their daughters and sons get to have their "Disney moments" too.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.