The Fight of a Lifetime

As a Georgia PT battles leukemia, he inspires all who meet him

By Lauren Himiak

It is easy to get caught up in the everyday stressors: bills, gas prices, not getting enough sleep, cheating on a diet, fighting with a friend. But problems such as these are trivial compared to the serious battles some face. Why does it always seem like those who give so much to others, those who are often described as 'the nicest person you'll ever meet," are the ones who face life's most serious challenges?

Mike Umans, PT, MESS, is the clinical site leader of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Sorts Medicine Program, and has dedicated his life to treating children suffering from sports-related injuries.

"He truly loves helping others!" exclaimed Beth Ward, MS, ATC, a colleague of Mike's at Children's Sports Medicine. "He is someone who would do anything in his power to see his patients improve and return to their sport or activity."

When you talk to Mike, you hear about his beautiful family, the career he loves and his unbridled enthusiasm for basketball. And when you learn he is battling leukemia, the shock hits you in the face.

Helping Others

Umans, who is now 36, attended the University of Florida, and like so many before him, had no idea what he wanted to do as far as careers were concerned. He received a bachelor's degree in psychology and went on to earn a master's in sports psychology. While studying for his master's, Umans spent time doing what he adored: playing basketball.

"I am a basketball junkie," he declared. "I love to watch it. I love to play it."

Unfortunately, while on the court Umans tore both ACLs and needed surgery to fix the damage. Painful, yes, but the injury seemed meant to be. During the surgery and physical therapy that followed, Umans discovered that he had an admiration for the field of PT. He decided that was the career path to take and began studying for a degree in physical therapy at the University of Florida.

While at school, Umans met his future wife, Christi, who was studying for her master's in fine arts. After they married, they moved to Atlanta in 1999. Umans got a job with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at a satellite office where his work consisted of about 50 percent pediatric neuro-rehab patients and 50 percent sports medicine. As time progressed, sports medicine patients increased to the point where Children's opened a fifth sports medicine clinic and offered Umans the lead position.

"Mike has been a valuable member of the Children's Sports Medicine team for several years," said Dennis Fredette, PT, Mike's supervisor and manager, Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "He constantly receives accolades from patients and parents in customer service surveys on the quality of his treatments and his ability to communicate so well with the young athletes."

As clinical site leader at the Satellite Blvd. facility, Umans treats patients ranging from ages 7 to 21 with sports-related injuries.

"It is rare but I feel very fortunate to truly enjoy what I do," Umans said. And those he treats truly enjoy him.

"Mike was such a great physical therapist that he was fortunate enough to not only treat my cheerleading injuries once, but twice!" laughed Lindsey Bowers, a former patient of Umans. "He always had the ability to keep me laughing while doing my exercises so they weren't so boring. With his help I was able to strengthen my back and complete my senior cheerleading season injury free. Not only did he teach me how to cure my injury then, but I also learned techniques to prevent it from happening again in the future."

Misfortune Strikes

In January 2006, Umans went to the dentist after noticing he had mouth sores. The dentist assumed it was some sort of bacterial infection and referred Umans to an oral surgeon who removed all four of his wisdom teeth.

"After about two weeks, the wounds just weren't healing," Umans recalled. Christi and Mike decided to take matters into their own hands so they headed to the Emergency Room at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. It was there when an oral pathologist delivered the unbelievable news: acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Umans spent the next 30 days at Emory receiving chemotherapy. During his treatment, his friends and family stepped up to show their support and love. Eyal Rappoport, Mike's best friend, decided to join the Lance Armstrong team in the New York Marathon and run it for his friend. But as Umans began to feel better, he decided he had enough of sitting around and began running with Eyal. Mike and Christi were both determined to start racing and by the time the November marathon came about, Umans felt so good that he actually joined in and ran a mile.

Mike and Christi kept up with the running and participated in many races, including a 5K, a 10K, a race to benefit leukemia and most recently the ING Georgia Half Marathon in March.

"I use a lot of sports pathology background just as far as setting goals and getting the satisfaction of meeting each goal, whether it be walking one time around a hospital floor or running a race," noted Umans.

Winning the Battle

In January, Umans returned to work full time, something his colleagues and patients had been anticipating for a long time.

"When I first met Mike, I knew instantly he was a great job fit for our team and a wonderful organizational fit for Children's," said Jan Scott, MS.ED, CCC-SLP, current satellite leader at Children's Healthcare at Sugarload. "Mike is professional, down-to-earth and approachable in his manner. All of his patients and fellow therapists love him. It is so difficult for me to put into words how much Mike means to us and our families because he has given so much. His strength and courage are an example to all of us every day."

And that strength and courage is even more apparent today. The week following the ING half marathon, Umans went in for routine blood work and was told that the leukemia was back. He has since started chemotherapy again and is currently awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

"I think we are doing as well as you can do," Umans said. "I try not to focus on the negative things we can't control. You have to take each day as a gift because it is one."

The main difficulty Umans faces is time he must spend away from his children; Joseph, 3, and Joshua, 1. But Umans said he gains strength from the love and support of his family and friends.

Recently, Grayson Elementary School, where Christi teaches art, organized the "Umans Project." It was created raise money that will help the financial hardships around the corner as Christi will be forced to take a leave of absence to be Mike's full-time caregiver. So far, the school and surrounding community has raised more than $15,000 in donations.

"People from Christi and my work, our friends and family have just gone way above and beyond as far as generosity is concerned," Umans said.

With so much love and support, Umans is ready for the fight of his life. He said Christi remains unbelievably positive and credits her for much of his optimistic outlook.

"We are going to beat this. Every day is a fight and I intend on winning this one."

Lauren Himiak is assistant editor at ADVANCE. She can be reached at lhimiak@merion.com