Curing Cancer One Masterpiece at a Time!™

The moment I met Dr. John Byrd, I knew he was someone special. My brother Drew, my mother Elizabeth Martin, and I drove to Ohio for a four o'clock appointment with Dr. Byrd. Dr. Byrd was late, but it didn't matter because his energy and brilliance were present when he jumped up on the examination table, crossed his legs, propped his head on his hands, and asked me to share my story. 

As a leukemia patient facing many unknowns, my family and I needed more than medical expertise. We needed comfort, empathy, wisdom, and a solid hand to grasp in the storm. And we found all that and more in Dr. Byrd. From our very first consultation, I felt enveloped in warmth, care, genius, and support - not just for my diagnosis but for me as a person facing the most complex and ongoing challenge of my life. Where other doctors rushed through labs and scans, Dr. Byrd listened with gentle curiosity to our worries and concerns. My mother was walking on a cliff of worry until our appointment with Dr. Byrd. As we discussed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and mapped out a treatment plan, his clear guidance, confidence, and assurance washed away confusion, doubt, and worry.

Yet his dedication spans beyond any single patient. Dr. Byrd is a pillar of hope devoted to illuminating the world of cancer research and helping CLL patients like me worldwide. I remember hearing four languages sitting in the waiting room waiting to see Dr. Byrd. He doesn't just dream of better outcomes - he creates breakthroughs in real-time. Recently, my chronic leukemia reminded me of its presence in a terrifying way, making me sicker than ever not long after a course of chemo. When my oncology team at UNC wasn't sure what to do, I called Ohio State looking for Dr. Byrd. 

After asking if I'd be seeing Dr. Byrd for the fourth time, the person on the phone let me know Dr. Byrd moved to the University of Cincinnati (UC). "I like to build things," is how Dr. Byrd explained his move from OSU to UC. When the UC development office took me through plans for their new blood cancer center, the first of its kind, I understood why Dr. Byrd and most of his team moved. 

And his vision for progress doesn't stop at incremental steps. As UC's new blood cancer center illustrates, Dr. Byrd stays fixed on a future where CLL transforms into a manageable condition rather than a formidable foe. He worked with Dr. Stephen Anthony at Newave Pharma Dr. Stephen Anthony so I could be part of a clinical trial for Dr. Byrd's latest Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor. I take three pills every day, and my white count has moved from life-threatening to normal. 

Dr. Byrd is more than an amazing cancer researcher; he is a collaborator who develops pioneering therapies. I get to experience Byrdman's tireless optimism firsthand. Every appointment with this superhero doctor brings his buoyant conviction, a sense of possibility and hope. He exudes a light that makes me believe anything is surmountable as long as we have faith and trust in each other. On days when CLL weighs heavy, I recall his smile - how his genius and compassion give me hope, courage, and belief. 

I think of Dr. Byrd as my guardian of hope - this man who nurtures spirits as he nurtures health and science. He may be my doctor, but he has also been a confidant, a counselor, and a rock-steady comfort, reminding me I'm never alone. As long as he's watching over me, walking each step by my side, I know he'll find options, explore ideas, and collaborate as we fight the Big C together. I can't imagine making this journey without a hero like Dr. John Byrd.

The Byrdman's Profile on UC