A Tribute to Michael Rosario Cretella

By His Mother, Arlene

Michael was a bright and compassionate young man. He was a loving son who cared for me as much as I cared for him during his nearly five-year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma. Mike enjoyed computers and programming and briefly attended Carnegie Mellon's Gates School of Computer Science, although he relapsed mid-semester and had to return to Baltimore. We would drive down some blighted streets on our weekly clinic visits to Johns Hopkins, and he hoped that one day he could use his education to help the people in those areas who were suffering. He loved the Orioles and Ravens; he loved his cats; he loved his family, his friends and his band.

Mike was in treatment for many, many years. He was a member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and with the guidance of Judi Breidegam, he learned faith and comfort. He received excellent care at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and he also received traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture by Dr. Cynthia Sui in New York City. We traveled there about once a month, and combined his doctor visits with Broadway Shows, museums, and walks through the city. He loved food, and we ate our way through Little Italy, Chinatown, and many French Restaurants. When Mike became too ill to travel to NYC, he continued acupuncture with Stanley Fox at the Tai Sophia Institute. He always said that cancer had changed him for the better. He was a positive force of nature.

Mike left behind a lot of music. His close friends, Christian, Dalton and Alex, plan to honor him by setting up a website for his songs, videos and pictures.

Mike and I have so many people to thank, but especially the parents of children who are still fighting, and those who are now angels. They reached out, sent emails, letters, cards, encouragement, and that has to be so very difficult. We are trying to live our days as Mike would have wanted....

Donate in Michael's Memory

At least 97% of your donations in Michael's honor will be used for peer-reviewed sarcoma research. We hope that this research will better the lives of countless people who face this disease, both now and in the future.

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