Discovered Tuesday afternoon that longtime Mankato East track and cross country coach Neil Paarmann has contracted Leukemia and is currently at Methodist Hospital in Rochester undergoing treatment.
Paarmann was diagnosed about nine days. After feeling crummy for awhile and unable to get better, he finally went to the doctor where his condition was discovered.
The 47-year-old teacher/coach is one of the most physically fit people I know. He's run marathons and other types of endurance races and usually fares well in his age-group.
According to East athletic director Todd Waterbury, Paarmann is meeting his disease head-on.
"He's going to have to undergo extensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant and then they're going to make him do the same thing all over again," Waterbury said. "But he has that mental toughness that marathon runners develop. He's using that to combat the disease.
"He called one of his good friends after his first chemo session Monday and told him 'I just kicked some serious Leukemia (butt) -- Paarmann 1, Leukemia 0.' "
Depending on how he responds to the treatment, Paarmann will probably have to be in Rochester about 6-8 weeks.
My thoughts go out to Neil and his family. Keep fighting the good fight!
Mavericks 4, Seawolves 2
4 years ago
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