CARTERSVILLE, Ga. (Atlanta News First) -Zach Thompson, born and raised in Bartow County, needs your help in his battle with cancer. Thompson said doctors said a stem cell transplant would be his only cure.
It’s the reason why DKMS, held a Stem Cell Donor Drive in Cartersville, Cedartown, and Rome on Sunday.
Thompson was diagnosed with Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in 2022.
“I have full skin involvement,” Thompson said. “It’s in my blood and it’s also in my lymph nodes,” he said. “November 2022, I started chemo and that was for my lymph nodes. I went through January, and it worked very well for my lymph nodes. It cleared up a lot of things. I’m currently doing three other treatments. One to kill the cancer cells in my blood, one to help with my skin, and one to boost my immune system to help fight off the cancer cells,” Thompson said.
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Thompson said for years, he didn’t know what was wrong.
“I started having symptoms about three, three in a half years ago,” Thompson said. “Like I said just dry skin, itchy skin. Got misdiagnosis with psoriasis or eczema,” Thompson said.
The 34-year-old said he was once a very active person but is now unable to do any of the things he used to do, including working.
“I was very active. I worked at a fire protection company and liked that job,” Thompson said. “I worked out, CrossFit which I absolutely loved. I’m very active with my friends. Loved to go kayaking. Liked to go hunting too,” he said. “None of that I can do anymore. With this disease for some reason, I cannot tolerate hit, so I can’t be outside and with the treatments that I’m doing, how much more susceptible to UV light, so I can’t be out in the sun,” Thompson said.
Currently, Thompson has relocated to Houston, Texas with his wife for treatments. He came back to Metro Atlanta this weekend for the donor drive.
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“We are having a donor drive and that’s where people 18-55 will come, do three swabs to see if they are a match to me,” Thompson said. ”Right now, I don’t have a match,” he said.
“I have been looking in a donor pool of 29 million people nationally, but it’s very hard to get that perfect match and the more people that are aware, the better the odds are. So even if I don’t get a match, my bigger picture is to bring awareness so that other people can get that match,” Thompson said.
Raegan Bell, Donor Recruiter with DKMS said donations are critical right now.
“Zach is one of 17,000 Americans diagnosed every year with a blood cancer or blood disease. So, most of these patients are going to need a stem cell or a bone marrow transplant in order to survive,” Bell said. “It’s very uncommon to find a match in your family. Only about 30 percent of patients find a match within their own families. So, 70 percent of patients have to go to a complete stranger to find their lifesaving donation,” Bell said.
Bell said next year, DKMS would have been doing this work for 20 years in the U.S.
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“After 20 years of working all this time to find people for the registry, only two percent of all Americans are swabbed. It’s a very low number, of that two percent of Americans 76 percent is Caucasian, so somebody who is a minority looking for a match, is having a hard time finding one,” Bell said. “If Zac is Caucasian, and can’t find a match, the rest of us have an even harder time. So, it’s imperative that everybody signs up 18 to 55 in general good health. A quick swab of your cheek and you’re in the registry hopefully to save a life,” she said.
Bell said once found to be a match, there are two ways to donate, which she said depends on the patient’s needs. She said 85 percent of the time, donors will be asked to donate stem cells, which Bell said is similar to donating plasma or platelets. Bell said 15 percent of the time donors will be asked to donate bone marrow, which is typically for a younger patient.
“I donated bone marrow personally in 2014 to a newborn baby girl. In July she turned nine,” Bell said. “I feel like I won the lottery when I was able to donate and save a life,” she said.
Thompson said he doesn’t know what the future holds.
“It has affected my day-to-day life in a pretty extreme way,” Thompson said. “It is emotionally draining just the thought of what is this going to look like 10 years down the road. How am I going to be affected by it, physically is also very stressful. I get tired very easily. I can get infections. It’s not easy and it’s not fun,” he said.
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He said he is hopeful that your help will give him a chance to live a normal life again.
“Right now, my oncologist said, since I’m young and otherwise healthy, that I should do well managing this disease, but if I want to have a better quality of life, then a transplant is the way to go,” Thompson said. “Even though this cancer isn’t horrible, itching is bad, but it’s not the worst of the worst. I could manage, but I don’t want to,” he said.
“A simple one-minute swab and that’s it. That’s all you need to do,” Thompson said. “You can save a life literally you can, if you just get out there and do the swab,” he added.
“It takes about six minutes of your time and a quick swab of the inside of the inside of your cheek to join the national bone marrow registry,” Bell said.
Bell said there’s currently a virtual drive going on for Thompson right now. To learn more about Thompson and how you can jumpstart the process, visit www.dkms.org/zachattack.
There’s an absolute nightmare scenario brewing on the horizon for the Atlanta Braves. If New York Yankees superstar Juan Soto signs in the National League East, either with the New York Mets or Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves will need to match that signing with a blockbuster move of their own.
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FanSided’s Christopher Kline pointed this doomsday scenario out this week, noting three moves the Braves could make to combat this potential nightmare signing. At the top of Kline’s list, he wrote, “Alex Bregman is the Braves infield solution nobody is talking about.”
That’s right. Kline is recommending the Braves sign the projected $119 million Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman while they already have an All-Star at the hot corner.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 21: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves turns a double play at second base against Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros in the third inning at Truist Park on… ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 21: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves turns a double play at second base against Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros in the third inning at Truist Park on April 21, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
“The best front offices in the MLB are creative. On the surface, Alex Bregman isn’t a fit for Atlanta. He’s a battle-tested third baseman and the Braves already have an All-Star at the hot corner in Austin Riley,” Kline wrote. “That said, what if Bregman takes over second base and Albies moves to shortstop, a position he frequented before his ascent with Atlanta’s big-league squad?”
This idea is intriguing. There are likely better options out there for Atlanta if it wanted to pursue something like this though. Signing Willy Adames would be a better move. Signing Gleyber Torres would be a much more cost-effective one, though not as impactful.
But, if the Braves can lure Bregman away from Houston, they would have the ability to play either Albies or Bregman at shortstop. It’s not the worst idea. It’s a very interesting thought to put into your brain as free agency continues.
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With the Eastern Conference playoff bracket thrown into a blender after Round One, fourth-seed Orlando City now have a dream path to the MLS Cup final.
They must first get through Atlanta United in the second conference semifinal on Sunday, with the seven seed having stunned the regular season champions Inter Miami two weeks ago.
Lionel Messi’s Herons were not the only top team in the East to be sent packing early, as the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati were also forced to exit early, leaving Orlando as the highest remaining seed left in the field.
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It’s now or never for Oscar Pareja, but a matchup against Atlanta, who will be flying high and full of confidence after springing an all-time upset, presents its own problems.
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United live stream, TV channel
All MLS Cup playoff matches are available to watch exclusively on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV.
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With the home stretch in view, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is being offered at its lowest price of the season. Fans can sign up for a seasonal subscription to MLS Season Pass for just $9.99 to catch the remainder of the 2024 season, including the MLS Cup playoffs. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up for a seasonal subscription to MLS Season Pass for free for the remainder of the 2024 season and playoffs.
What time is Orlando City vs. Atlanta United kickoff?
This Eastern Conference semifinal match kicks off from Inter&Co Stadium on Sunday, November 24 at 3:30 p.m. local time in Orlando, FL.
Here’s how that time translates across the time zones in North America:
Date
Kickoff time
Eastern Time
Sun, Nov. 24
3:30 p.m.
Central Time
Sun, Nov. 24
2:30 p.m.
Mountain Time
Sun, Nov. 24
1:30 p.m.
Pacific Time
Sun, Nov. 24
12:30 p.m.
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United lineups & team news
The international break was good to Orlando City, who are now nearly at full strength for the stretch run of the postseason.
Backup goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar is the only player still nursing a fitness issue, as he is done for the year after a broken leg back in June. Playmaker Facundo Torres is in great form, having scored twice in Round One, including Orlando’s 100th-minute equalizer in game three which saved their season.
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Orlando City projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Gallese (GK) — Thorhallsson, Schlegel, Jansson, Santos — C. Araujo, Cartagena — F. Torres, Ojeda, Angulo — Enrique.
Atlanta United picked up a few fresh injury concerns in the last few weeks, including a few not yet shaken.
Defender Brooks Lennon dislocated his shoulder in the playoff opener and is out for the remainder of the postseason run, while Edwin Mosquera had knee surgery earlier this month and is unlikely to return unless Atlanta United reach the final.
Atlanta United projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Guzan (GK) — Hernandez, R. Williams, Abram — Lobzhanidze, Slisz, McCarty, Muyumba, Amador — Thiare, Miranchuk.
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United prediction, betting odds & lines
Score prediction: Orlando City 2-2 Atlanta United
Atlanta United proved a thorn in the side of Inter Miami all season long, but they still have to prove they are more than just a matchup problem for one top MLS side. Thankfully for them, they may also be a matchup issue for their next opponent, having beaten Orlando both meetings this season — the third match of the year and the final match of the regular season.
Orlando are in good form, but needed a penalty shootout win over Charlotte to advance to this position. There should be chances for both sides to take hold of this game, and that should result in an entertaining affair, even if it ultimately cancels out.
It is a gloomy morning in Atlanta, but for Brad Guzan, it feels like a warm, sunny day. The veteran Atlanta United goalkeeper could have been planning his offseason, gone fishin’ for a few weeks while he waited for news of what the team will look like in 2025. Instead, he’s in his normal routine. He’s working. He’s preparing for a match. And he’s happy.
“It feels that much better when you’re training with a real purpose, hopefully for MLS Cup,” Guzan said to ESPN.
His stops on Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and the rest of Inter Miami’s superstar squad earned him the right to keep working. Atlanta won the second two matches of a three-game series in Round One of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Even in the first game, the 40-year-old Guzan looked like a goalkeeper in top form. He made eight saves in the defeat, then one in the home victory and nine in the critical clincher, a 3-2 win at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale that vanquished one of the best MLS teams of all time and sent Atlanta into the next round.
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Guzan and Atlanta United now are preparing for the Eastern Conference semifinal against Orlando City, three steps away from lifting MLS Cup.
“We’re probably not as shocked as people on the outside that we’re in this position,” Guzan said.
Not as shocked, but maybe still a bit surprised. After all, Inter Miami didn’t just have a lot of stars. The team put together the best-ever MLS regular season, earning 74 points to set a record for most points in a campaign.
And Atlanta United didn’t just have a rocky season. They fired manager Gonzalo Pineda after winning just four of their first 16 matches. They fired technical director Carlos Bocanegra after the summer transfer window. Even before Bocanegra’s departure, the team had started to strip the roster for parts, preparing for a winter overhaul with a new general manager and a new coach giving their input about the right players to bring to the club.
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Standout attacking midfielder Thiago Almada left for Botafogo for what the club said was a league-record fee. Consistent forward Giorgos Giakoumakis joined Liga MX side Cruz Azul. Atlanta also let go of homegrown product Caleb Wiley, who moved to Chelsea.
The Five Stripes received $42 million in combined transfer fees for the trio. The soccer-valuation site Transfermarkt assesses what’s left of Atlanta United’s squad at little more than $36 million.
The team wasn’t left entirely to fend for itself. Russian forward Aleksei Miranchuk arrived from Serie A and was an important part of Atlanta’s three playoff wins so far. They also added left back Pedro Amador, who has impressed and registered four assists in the playoffs.
Incoming players must beat out the existing players, though, something Guzan knows well. After an inconsistent 2023, the team signed Josh Cohen, a goalkeeper with UEFA Champions League experience after several seasons starting at Maccabi Haifa. Yet, Guzan kept the No. 1 job despite competition from the younger player.
“I’ve always said I don’t need an external motivator for me to go into work and train and ultimately go into games,” Guzan said. “I’m my biggest critic. I fully expect a club of Atlanta United’s level to bring in players to challenge at all positions — not just goalkeeper — and I’m not naive to think I’m going to play forever. But I do think I’m able to offer something to the group that is beneficial.
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“Obviously, last year wasn’t ideal from an individual standpoint, so it was a moment I wanted to try and rectify.”
Guzan should be able to consider it forgiven by Atlanta’s passionate fan base, one that has come to expect success since the team won MLS Cup in 2018, its second season in existence.
Since then, expectant fans have largely been disappointed. Atlanta returned to the Eastern Conference final in 2019 but hadn’t won a playoff series until their upset of Miami this month.
This year didn’t look like it would be the year that changed that, but the team started gathering momentum late in the year under interim manager Rob Valentino. They lost just once in their last six and secured victories over the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City in the last two weeks of the season to reach the postseason. Once there, they fought CF Montreal to a 2-2 draw with Guzan making a save in the penalty shootout to set up the first-round showdown with Inter Miami.
A May win in Fort Lauderdale, plus a September draw with the Herons in Atlanta helped boost belief that the Five Stripes could hang with the top seed.
“They had a great season, they set the point record and obviously have big-name players, but we went into it with confidence,” Guzan said.
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Some of that confidence came from Guzan. A goalkeeper who has been in big moments for the U.S. national team and with Aston Villa in the Premier League, it was evident early on in the series that Guzan wasn’t going to go quietly in the series. From the saves he made to the viral moment in which he ended up stuck in the net after a shove while Miami tried to chase the match, Guzan set the tone for the rest of the Atlanta team.
“I think he has an intense focus, almost a look in his eyes that ‘this is go time,’” Valentino told ESPN. “When the team can see something like that, I think it’s infectious.
“He makes a save, and he’s got some aura about him almost. It bleeds through the team. His voice alone is something the team feeds off of, and he’s been huge in this run of games.”
As the lowest seed left in the playoffs, Atlanta United now go on the road again to face Orlando City. The team will need to look to Guzan’s example — plus get performances from field players like the ones they got against Miami — if the journey will continue. Yet, there once again is internal belief that they can secure an upset.
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“Ultimately, what I’ve been telling the group is that it doesn’t matter what anybody said on the outside — good or bad,” Valentino said. “It wasn’t me fostering [confidence], it was us fostering it together and having internal belief in ourselves and what we can do on the field. The way we operate on a day-to-day basis? People can’t see that.”
While very few people expected Atlanta to get to that point, and even some on the inside had to be doubting their chances, the team feels they now have a clear goal — one that they are three wins away from securing.
“It has to be MLS Cup,” Guzan said. “It’s about trophies. It’s about winning, especially at this point in the season.”
It’s a goal that would keep him working well into December, keep the cold winter feeling plenty pleasant and would continue to shock just about everyone, maybe even Atlanta United themselves.
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