LINN  — Do you believe in miracles?

Cody Fulkerson, 59, of Linn, does after beating Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia (CNL), a blood cancer so rare only 300 people have ever contracted it.

“Going from being told I had 18 months to live to now I’m free of cancer is astounding; it’s a miracle, if you ask me,” said Fulkerson. “Technically, I’m in remission. They say you’re not cancer-free until it’s been gone for five years. God isn’t done with me yet. There are still things to accomplish, and I look forward to them.”

One of the doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, said something that stuck with Fulkerson and confirmed he was in the right place.

“He said, ‘Our job as medical professionals is to keep the patients entertained while God determines the outcome.’ I thought that was perfect,” Fulkerson said. “Where you go matters in a fight like this.”

He first noticed something was amiss when deep, dark bruises began appearing all over his body.

“I’ve always taken pretty good care of myself,” said Fulkerson, who played sports growing up and then served for 41 years in law enforcement while also coaching football. “Every year, I religiously stick to a head-to-toe physical and blood work. Honestly, at the time the bruises showed up, I felt fine. I still feel good.”

Despite not feeling bad, Fulkerson went to the doctor at the insistence of his wife, Amanda Grellner. The physician drew blood and performed tests. The next day, he was rushed to the hospital because his white blood cell count was 137.4 when the normal range is 4-11.

“Amanda left court and took me to Boone Hospital,” said Fulkerson. “I knew my body was fighting something, but when they told me it was leukemia, it was like being punched in the face.”

After he didn’t respond favorably to treatment, doctors sent a bone-marrow biopsy to the Mayo Clinic.

Fulkerson’s father died from pancreatic cancer, and his mother passed away after a battle with kidney cancer.

“The good news is that this is not genetic,” he said. “There are no stages with leukemia because it’s in the blood and will not cause other types of cancer.”

Fulkerson thinks he may have contracted the disease due to exposure to nuclear weapons while in the military, though he’s not entirely sure.

Since being diagnosed in January, Fulkerson and Grellner have explored every possible avenue to find a way to battle the disease.

Part of that effort was to raise awareness of CNL and other forms of leukemia through the “Be The Match” program. A registry drive at State Tech in Linn led to new donors enrolling.

Be the Match representative Erika Hatfield noted that while Be the Match had not previously held a registry in Osage County, organizers were happy to do it. “We are truly excited to work alongside wonderful volunteers and others to make an impact for patients like Cody and many others along their journey with blood cancers and diseases,” said Hatfield.

Meanwhile, doctors found a couple of viable matches, but Fulkerson knows there were no guarantees.

“Doctors look for markers that indicate how much a donor matches with a patient,” Fulkerson explained in April. “I got a call telling me they had found not one, but two matches that were absolutely perfect.”

A perfect match is 14 markers out of 14, and both donors agreed to continue the journey.

“The doctor looked at both of them and ultimately decided on one based on their criteria to make this successful,” said Fulkerson.

The gentleman chosen is 24 and lives in the U.S. Fulkerson doesn’t know any more than that, but he’s delighted. “He and I have the same blood type, and it blows my mind that a 24-year-old man is willing to do this,” he added.

Fulkerson left in late May for MD Anderson Cancer Center, where doctors took several more blood marrow biopsies.

“CNL is very aggressive, and to respond in kind, you have to have a viable donor,” said Fulkerson. “I was at a world-renowned cancer center, and there’s a reason MD Anderson is the best in the world. They took it from scratch and looked at every aspect of my case to find a solution.”

When Fulkerson arrived at the cancer center, he made his position known quickly. “I told them I was there to get cured,” he said.

His enthusiasm and faith kept him going as the process began in Houston. “I also relied heavily on Amanda,” Fulkerson said. “She’s my soul mate, there’s no doubt about that. She was prepared for the worst but hoped for the best. She was the main force behind my fight, and I don’t think I could have done it without her.”

He added that Grellner continued to work when she could while taking care of him. “She carried her laptop around and held court virtually, and made sure everything back home was going as smoothly as possible,” said Fulkerson.

He underwent oral chemo ahead of the transplant, from early January to late May.

According to Be the Match, preparing for a marrow transplant is called a preparative or conditioning regimen. This includes chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy, which destroy the diseased cells in the bloodstream as well as the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow to make room for new cells. They also destroy the immune system so it can’t attack donated cells after transplant.

“The doctor explained it as ‘killing everything in the garden and taking me right to death’s door,’” he said, noting the treatment also eliminated his immunity. “I lived in a bubble.”

Fulkerson finished the oral chemo and waited a week to start Thiotepa chemotherapy treatment, which lasted another seven days. Thiotepa is a type of drug called an alkylating agent. It works by sticking to one of the cancer cell’s DNA strands, which prevents the cell from dividing into two new cells.

“That was the roughest week of my life,” he said, noting his white blood count shot from 45 to 150 a few days after chemo. “It’s called ‘Devil’s Water’ for a reason.”

Finally, he was ready for the transplant procedure, which went very well. “One of the best moments was ringing the bell, which signified my treatment was complete at the hospital,” said Fulkerson. “I knew I still had months to go, but it was a great feeling.”

Fulkerson was amazed to learn that 11 days after the transplant, the new cells had successfully joined his existing cells. “Everyone was surprised how fast I got better,” he said.

Grafted cells joining host cells is a concern in such transplants. “That fact it worked so fast means my immune system is doing its job,” said Fulkerson. “It confirms the old cells are gone, and the new cells have grafted correctly.”

Because things went so well, Fulkerson was released to his apartment in Houston a week early.

Fulkerson and Grellner returned to Linn ahead of schedule, leaving Sept. 25 instead of Oct. 5.

Another thrilling moment came when Fulkerson surprised his son, Aiden. “He had no idea I was back,” said Fulkerson. “His smile and excitement when seeing me was incredible. I am so grateful for the love and support I’ve received from my family.”

Fulkerson returned to coaching at Linn in the game against Centralia. He has watched film, broken down the games and talked to players daily. “I was a virtual coach, and it’s nice to be here in person,” he said.

He quipped that he feels like “grandpa” during practice because of his restrictions. “Direct sunlight is an issue, so I’m always looking for shade,” Fulkerson said.

Sheriff Mike Bonham lent the department’s new observation tower to the team for Fulkerson to use. “The glass is tinted so I can watch the game without worrying about the sun,” he said. “Once the sun goes down, I go to the field and coach next to the boys.”

When leaving for Texas, Fulkerson admits he was unsure how things would work out. “I wondered how things would look if and when I got back,” he added.

He needn’t have worried. “We have received so much support from everyone in the community,” Fulkerson said. “The young men in the football program are outstanding and have a lot of pride.”

Fulkerson saw that in the game against Montgomery County when Linn overcame a 30-6 halftime deficit to win 44-38. “It’s easy to be there for each other when things go well,” said Fulkerson. “When they don’t, are we going to pull together and help each other? That game is a great example of working as a team to overcome an obstacle. The boys learned a lot about themselves.”

A week after his return, Fulkerson went back to work full-time. “It’s a privilege to be part of this football team,” he added. “In addition to my family, the team has been a motivation for me.”

Since returning to Linn, Fulkerson has been overwhelmed with positive comments, cards, calls, emails, and in-person well-wishes from community members. “I’m humbled by all this,” he said.

Despite his need to avoid excessive sunlight, Fulkerson said sunrises and sunsets are special. “They look different to me now,” he said. “I’m enjoying time with my family and performing random acts of kindness to repay the generosity I’ve received. Blessings are not meant to be hoarded. They should be shared, and hopefully, people you help will pay it forward.”

Fulkerson offered advice for people facing a challenge. “No matter what, don’t lose your faith,” he said. “Failure is never an option. You have to fight and remain strong.”

He said he’s glad to be back and is excited to see what the next chapter brings.