Marc G. Mitchell, DVM, was in the prime of his life. As a successful New Hampshire veterinarian who was married to his veterinary-school sweetheart, he had a picture-perfect life in small-town New England. He lived close to his family and his lifelong friends. Years ago, he’d formed a street hockey team with some buddies who shared his stick-and-puck obsession, and he prided himself on being tough and fit. At forty-five, he still felt indestructible.
A devastating diagnosis of stage-three multiple myeloma blew apart Mitchell’s idyllic life. The rare terminal cancer, which usually strikes much older people, brought him face-to-face with his own mortality. How would Mitchell react to the news that he would never grow old?
In his new book, Play Till You Hear the Whistle, Mitchell shares his experiences of living with a terminal cancer diagnosis. While he knows there is no cure, he continues to take advantage of every second. As he would in a hockey match, Mitchell plans to stay in the game—and give it his all—until it’s over.
In sharing his story, Mitchell hopes to help terminally ill individuals continue to live each day with humor, hope, and gratitude.