|
Missouri man inspires many
07-31-09
Missouri man inspires many
Tribune contributing writer / Leah Morgan
When Johnny Cathcart was 12 years old he underwent an MRI after a long series of excruciating headaches. They found a massive tumor pressing into his brain - likely to kill me in the next few days if left untreated. They did surgery immediately, found the tumor cancerous, and sent him to St. Jude Children Hospital in Memphis, TN to undergo a year of radiation and chemo.
When he came home, he had a wonderful 8th grade and freshman year - joined sports and got healthy again. On a routine checkup at St. Jude, they found the cancer had come back. Johnny says, “The type of cancer I had wasn't supposed to come back - because if it does then it's 10x strong. The survival rate goes way down, close to 1 in 5. They took it out again, and sent me to Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City to undergo this relatively new and very risky protocol of chemo.”
The new chemo alone was very lethal, but his only chance. A summer went by of NYC, he survived and made it home. He was 15 at the time. At 17, he started writing down his experiences and eventually it evolved into his book, titled ‘Hotpants’. That was a nickname given to him by his high school cross-country team.
Johnny is 24 now, and graduated from film school in St. Louis 2 years ago. He’s been working as an independent promotional commercial video producer around Northwest Missouri since college. His book was published in January of this year when he was still just 23. He has been busy touring with book signings and motivational speaking engagements.
As for his future, Johnny says, “My future plans are in film. I want to have this book turned into a film eventually - that's what it was written for, and I'm going for producing and directing big films in the future. I’m just trying to get my story, my message and my book out there in hopes that Oprah will eventually find out, and that book clubs all over will start reading it.
To learn more about Johnny’s amazing story of faith and inspiration, pick up his book ‘Hotpants’. It can be ordered through his web site at www.johnnyhp.com, amazon.com or ordered through any bookstore.
| |
