About Me

Profile

About: Hello! My name is Michael Tatalovich, and I am from Henderson, NV, a suburb of Las Vegas. I am 20 years old and currently a sophomore at UT studying architecture. I grew up with two amazing parents, Bob and Lin, my sister, Nikki and my fraternal twin, Haley.
I enjoy photography + design, espresso, and playing volleyball.

Why I Ride

I ride for a few different reasons.

Firstly, I ride for my mom, Linda Tatalovich. My mom is the most compassionate, selfless person I have ever known. She is the warmest smile and the tightest hug. I remember if I was ever cold in the morning waking up for school, she would throw towels in the dryer and come wake me up by draping them over me. She has given so much of herself to her three kids, and her tireless effort and love is unfathomable. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was just a toddler. Thankfully, she never had to undergo chemotherapy, but did have to have a mastectomy performed. She has been cancer free ever since.

I also ride for my paternal grandma, Baba, as we call her, who was also afflicted by breast cancer many years ago. She too received a mastectomy but no chemo or radiation.

The main reason I ride, though, is for myself. Coming up on three years ago on May 1st, 2013, I was diagnosed with stage 2 Ewing's Sarcoma. This rare, pediatric bone cancer was discovered in my left femur, where I had been having pain for a few months prior. Only 10 days after that fateful biopsy, I was receiving chemotherapy every 2 weeks, most weeks every day from 8am to 5pm. The active, confident, and independent version of myself had been washed away in a torrent of chemicals and toxins. I was relegated to a wheelchair to move as my femur had been crushed under the weight of the tumor. After the first 11 weeks of chemo, in which time I lost almost 50 pounds and much of my confidence, dignity and autonomy, I underwent a "radical resection, left proximal femur hemiarthroplasty," or a partial hip replacement surgery. My left femur was replaced with titanium and bone glue, leaving a 13 inch scar running the length of the side of my thigh. After this surgery, I underwent another 26 weeks of chemo, finishing on March 14, 2014.
The whole experience was in so many ways enlightening and liberating but in many more ways, terrifying, debilitating and life-changing. I still use a cane to walk, and every time I fly home to see my family, have to endure the embarrassment of being patted down by TSA workers because of my metal bone.
But during it all, I retained a positive attitude (some loved ones might even say stubborn) about making it out on the other side which is exactly what I did. I have been cancer free since I stopped chemotherapy over a year ago. I ride for myself because I know exactly what it's like to go through a cancer diagnosis and I am now in a position to do something about it and help others.
I am so so so excited, honored, and proud to ride for Texas 4000 and all the people affected by cancer.