Furniture Industry Veteran Michael Burton Shares His Healthcare Journey at City of Hope
Furniture World News Desk on
2/3/2025
Michael Burton, a seasoned veteran of the home furnishings industry and vice president of sales for Uniters North
America, has spent decades building a career defined by perseverance and dedication. Yet, it wasn’t until he
faced the most formidable challenge of his life — a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma — that he
truly discovered the depths of his resilience.
Known to friends and colleagues as "Miracle Mike," Burton’s journey is one of hope, determination, and the cutting-edge
clinical trial of auto stem cell transplant followed by CAR T-cell transplant two days
later, a breakthrough treatment that has redefined his story.
A Health Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
Before his diagnosis, Burton’s life was an active one. Even during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he
continued to walk five miles daily and balance a demanding career from home. But by October 2021, something felt
off. What began as a persistent pain on his right side led to months of medical consultations and inconclusive
diagnoses. It wasn’t until early 2022, after escalating pain and a series of scans, that doctors identified
the real issue: aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Burton’s condition rapidly worsened. By March 2022, he was gravely ill, in the emergency room with severe
vomiting for 24 hours. Two months later, he was back in the ER after heavy internal bleeding following chemotherapy.
Doctors advised him to get his affairs in order. But Burton, a fighter at heart, wasn’t ready to give up.
The Turning Point
Initial rounds of chemotherapy and radiation for 10 months provided some relief but weren’t enough to stop the
cancer’s advance. During a brief period of remission, a mass appeared on his neck in late 2022, and further
complications led Burton to seek care at University of California, Irvine in January 2023.
After grueling sessions of chemotherapy for three months, he was declared in remission and considered a candidate for
a stem cell transplant. However, insurance hurdles delayed the procedure, and a new mass of unknown origin developed
in his left lung.
Burton turned to City of Hope, a world-renowned cancer treatment and research center with which he already had a deep
personal connection. Early in his career at Parkview Furniture, Burton’s family had supported City of
Hope’s fundraising initiatives, and his father-in-law, Larry Brooks, had been honored by the International
Home Furnishings Industry group and City of Hope. Burton’s younger brother had lost his battle to leukemia,
leaving a lasting impression on his family’s commitment to advancing cancer research.
A Bold Decision: The World’s First, Back-to-Back Transplants
At City of Hope in Duarte, California, Burton met with Drs. Matthew Mei, Avyakta Kallam, and John Baird, who
presented a groundbreaking opportunity -- a trial never performed before: back-to-back stem cell transplant with a
time-advanced introduction of CAR T-cell therapy. This revolutionary treatment involves harvesting a patient’s
T cells and dividing them into two groups.
The first group is used for “auto”
(own cells) stem cell transplant. The second group, the CAR T cells, is genetically modified in a
lab to better target cancerous cells. Patients undergo chemotherapy between the cell harvesting and reinfusion
phases to give the bone marrow a clean slate so when the stem cells are reintroduced into the body, they rebuild
with disease-free bone marrow cells and hunt cancer. The CAR-T cells are a more aggressive cancer hunter. Typically,
there are months between the introduction of these two treatments. But Burton’s case was unique — the
entire procedure, including reinfusion, was completed within just two days of the stem cell transplants, a first for
this clinical trial.
For Burton, the decision was clear. Despite his wife’s initial hesitation about participating in this risky
trial, he viewed it as a chance to fight back and contribute to a greater cause. Without treatment “I had a
death sentence,” Burton recalled. “To me, I was going to throw everything at it and fight. I figured if
I could help somebody, regardless of my outcome, great.”
In the first six days of August 2023, Burton went through an intense round of chemotherapy for that clean slate. On
August 7, his stem cells, harvested back in June, were infused/transplanted. Two days later, August 9, the CAR T
cells were infused/transplanted. The next three weeks were spent in the hospital under close observation. Nearly 18
months later, Burton remains in remission.
Full Circle: A Legacy of Hope
Earlier this year, Burton attended a reunion at City of Hope, where he met the first infant to undergo a stem cell
transplant. The child, now a thriving adult, was a poignant reminder of the progress made in cancer treatment and
the lives saved through groundbreaking research.
Reflecting on his journey, Burton holds no bitterness about the initial misdiagnoses that delayed his treatment.
“I feel like it happened for a reason,” he said. “It put me on the path to City of Hope. It is
simply indescribable how they take care of you. The people there are God’s angels.”
Burton’s story is more than one of survival; it’s a testament to the power of innovation, community, and
the human spirit. His decision to undergo this world’s first and only back-to-back stem cell transplants then
CAR T-cell therapy not only saved his life but also contributed valuable data to a treatment that could one day cure
others.
“There’s a bigger meaning for this,” Burton said. “The hope is we live another day to find a
cure tomorrow.”
Michael Burton’s unwavering determination and willingness to embrace the unknown embody the mission of City of
Hope. His journey, filled with challenges and triumphs, stands as a beacon of inspiration for anyone confronting the
unthinkable.
The
International
Home Furnishings Industry
(IHFI) group formed in 1965 is one of City of Hope's first
industry-based chapters and premier fundraising groups that encompasses retailers, manufacturers, sales
representatives, suppliers and associated service providers. It has raised over $100 million and honored
some
of the most influential figures in the industry through two flagship events, Spirit of Life Awards and West
Coast Golf & Tennis Tournament. To learn more about how to support or register for these events,
contact
Loren Boyko at 626-222-9764, or send an email to furniture@coh.org.
City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute-designated
comprehensive cancer center and a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell
therapy. City of Hope’s translational research and personalized treatment protocols have advanced care for
people throughout the world with cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
City of Hope's International Home Furnishings Industry West Coast Golf, Tennis, and Pickleball Tournament is scheduled for Monday, June 9, 2025, in Coto de Caza, CA. Proceeds from the event will support City of Hope’s research, treatment advancements, and patient care programs. Jeff Child of R.C. Willey and Harold Hudson of Gabriella White/Summer Classics/Gabby, will be honored as IHFI West Coast Lifetime Achievement recipients. For more information and to register CLICK HERE.
About City of Hope
City of Hope has grown into one of the largest and most
advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., and one of the leading research centers for
diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous
breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With
an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that is ranked top 5 in the
nation
for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report at its core, City of Hope’s uniquely integrated model
spans
cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its
work. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care
locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment
centers
and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope’s affiliated group of
organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute
and AccessHopeTM. For more
information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About International Home Furnishings Industry
Inspired
by the guiding humanitarian principles of City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment
organizations in the U.S. and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses
and
motivated by the institution's commitment to innovative medical research and compassionate patient care, a
group of
key industry executives founded City of Hope’s International Home Furnishings Industry (IHFI) group in
1965.
In its 50-plus-year history, the group has raised over $100 million for City of Hope and has honored some of the
most
influential figures in the home furnishings industry. With a tradition of uniting professionals from around the
world, IHFI represents a community of executives, professionals and colleagues in every segment of the home
furnishings category, including retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives, suppliers and associated
service
providers.
The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious honor and is presented to an esteemed
community of industry leaders around the world who have made a significant commitment to improving the lives of
others through the advancement of research and clinical innovation and the delivery of personalized,
compassionate
care.
Past honorees include Martin Ploy of AICO, Andrew Koenig of CITY Furniture, Rick Anderson, Larry Klaben of Morris
Furniture Co. Inc., Michael Amini, and Todd and Ron Wanek of Ashley Furniture, to name a few.