Mike McNeil was 10 when he was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal gland system that caused dangerously high levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. The tumors led to high blood pressure, lethargy, nausea and excessive sweating. Information on the disease was scarce in 1992, and his mother, MaryJo, searched everywhere for answers. Over seventeen years, Mike had surgeries in 1992, 1996 and 1998, all performed by Dr. Samuel Kim at Mass General, who retired after the final surgery. In 2004 the cancer progressed into malignant tumors on his adrenal gland and spine. Because they were small and highly vascular, doctors monitored them until they grew, but once they spread to his spine and bones the disease fully mutated to malignant. He had additional surgeries in 2004 and 2006, including an alcohol ablation that didn’t work, and follow-up scans continued to show tumors.

The day before Thanksgiving 2008, Mike was admitted to Mass General after a routine appointment showed high blood pressure, and tests revealed he had contracted C-Dif. On Thanksgiving he learned the tumors had spread through his spine, outside his lungs and into his brain, and there were too many to remove. An oncologist found a chemotherapy used in a Canadian study on Pheochromocytoma, and Mike agreed to try it. Because of the C-Dif, he remained in the hospital from November until Christmas Eve, when he was finally able to go home. In the following months he continued the experimental chemotherapy, but the C-Dif severely affected his digestive tract. He was hospitalized monthly for dehydration and intestinal issues, which made treatment difficult. Mike also relied on medications to control extreme blood pressure often in the 200s and a heart rate that never dropped below 125. He lived this way from November 2008 through March 2009. On March 8th his condition suddenly worsened when his blood pressure crashed after being high for so long, and despite the doctors’ efforts he passed away at 4 AM on March 9th, 2009.

Through it all, Mike never acted like he was sick. He never felt sorry for himself and lived fully whenever he could. He was on the high school swim team that won a championship, worked, spent time with friends, graduated in 2000 and joined the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, which became a major part of his life. His younger brother later joined the same fraternity. After recovering from surgery in 2004 he moved out and lived independently until he became ill again in 2008. He even completed a triathlon a few months after his first back surgery. Mike was a great older brother, an amazing friend and a wonderful son, and he is missed every day.