COLUMBUS, Ohio — The American Cancer Society projects about 9,000 children in the U.S. will face that news at some point this year. 

But 13-year-old Michael Herbert is proof of beating the odds. 

What You Need To Know

• Michael Herbert, 13, was diagnosed with Burkitt Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2021


• Burkitt Lymphoma is a blood cancer that can be fatal and may affect the jaw, central nervous system, bowel, kidneys, and other organs


• Michael is currently in remission and has been cancer-free for more than two years

His mom, Sarah Herbert, first saw the signs after a Christmas party in 2021. 

"His lymph node on the right side was huge, just huge,” she said. “We hadn't noticed it before, and when we looked inside of his throat, the same tonsil was huge. We thought maybe it could be some allergies because he had just spent the evening with a cat."

But instead, it turned out to be Burkitt Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is a blood cancer that can be fatal and may affect the jaw, central nervous system, bowel, kidneys and other organs. 

"COVID didn't worry you,” Sarah said. “His lack of immune system worried us, and that was like, the most disturbing part of it."

Michael went through four rounds of aggressive chemotherapy and frequent blood and platelet infusions and stayed in isolation for many months.

"Even when we weren't in the hospital,” she said, “we couldn't go anywhere. We couldn't do anything. His counts were just so low that there was just absolutely no chance of being around people." 

But on April 27, 2022, he finished the treatment and is currently in remission. He’s been cancer-free for more than two years now. 

"Now I feel great,” Michael said. “I bounced back like a spring."

Because of his fight, Michael’s being honored in next month’s Nationwide Children's Hospital Marathon in Columbus—something that's personal to the family. 

"It's not only Nationwide, but it's AEP, which is a huge deal because my father, who passed away, worked for them his entire life. So, now it's come full circle," Sarah said.

Pediatric oncologist Anthony Audino treated Michael, and he says Michael’s positive attitude helped his recovery. 

"Even though a cancer diagnosis can be devastating to a family,” he said, “the way they interact, the way they take it on definitely plays a part in the overall therapy for the patient and in the overall success of the treatment."

Now that Michael’s cancer-free, he's enjoying every moment and has big dreams for the future, but for now, he'll keep doing what he loves, playing VR and flying while he's at it. 

The Nationwide Children's Hospital Marathon is Oct. 20 and has raised more than $13 million so far for the hospital.