Leukemia Has Won

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Despite my best efforts over the past two and a half years, the leukemia has won. Due to liver inflammation and GvHD, the liver is too damaged to continue with treatment and there are no further options. I don’t want to spend the rest of my time in the hospital so I am choosing to remain at home where I can be comfortable with family and friends. If you want to read more about my journey through all of this, here are all of my posts with the cancer tag.

Since all of my plugins are open-source, they are free to be forked by reputable authors in the WordPress community. It would mean a lot to have my legacy go on.

I want to thank everyone who has given me moral support through these difficult times. It has meant a lot hearing all of the love and support pour in from my friends and colleagues from around the world. I have been so grateful for all of the opportunities that have been given to me in my life, professionally and personally. Automatticians have really helped me grow professionally by giving me an amazing career for the past nine years. My car friends have helped me grow socially and provided me so many good memories and life experiences. The people that I have gotten to know in the WordPress community have been very supportive as well. I am amazed by how many friends I have made and how much they have been there for me. They all have enriched my life and helped me grow as a person.

Thank you, everyone.


310 thoughts on “Leukemia Has Won”

  1. Oh,Alex, I feel heartbroken! We had such a good time when we left N.O and went to find ” the million mile hwy ” we were the only Vipers up there in the snow. Then that guy tried to keep up with us…and his motor let go! What a smoke show. Those were good times. We wouldn’t have gone or found this places if it wasn’t for You! Hang in there Bud.

  2. God speed brotha I will be flying your name high and proud this race season. If only it didn’t have to end like this. It’s sad to see another brother go but the Lord has his plans for us! Thank you for the time we had you.

  3. Alex. So sad to hear it got another. Make the best of the time left. You put up the good fight and will live forever in my and the others you touched hearts. I am better for knowing you. Godspeed my friend.

  4. This deeply saddens my heart. I can only imagine what you feel right now. Wishing you so much peace and bravery. Thank you for sharing your story. In my heart forever man.

  7. One of the first plugins I ever installed was Viper Video Tags. This gift to WordPress helped shape my passion for the platform. You’re legacy will long live on.

    Do not go gentle into that good night. Burn with life. Wishing you much strength!

  8. Alex this is absolutely dreadful news. If it means anything, I’d like to thank you for your service to the WordPress and Top Gear communities as without you I think they’d both be very different places. You’re a braver man than I’ll ever be and I hope you can remain comfortable among family and friends during this time.

  9. Horrible news… I will be forever grateful for all the time and effort that you’ve put into FinalGear over the years, but obviously, that pales in comparison to the fight that you’ve been putting up against leukaemia. Your legacy will live on, of that I am certain.

  10. From one WordPress dev and enthusiast to another. From one Viper fanatic and owner to another. Heartbreaking news buddy! Even though we’ve never met in person, I feel the social Viper social community brings us into each others’ lives in ways we take for granted. The good, the bad, the ugly and the indifferent. You’ll remain in the thoughts and prayers of so many from the WP people and the Car people. Stay strong and be with all those who bring you joy and comfort friend. You will live on forever within so many people you’ve touched before, during, and after. -Patrick

  11. Your plugins have improved WordPress for millions of people. Of all the things we can’t control, that is one thing we can and will.

    The times we spent together in Tybee trying to improve the web, and racing around Las Vegas in decked-out Ferrari’s, will always make me smile.

    You’re one in a million, Alex.

  13. Absolutely no words for this kind of thing Alex – we only hung out a little bit at a couple of GMs, but you were a great friend and you have been such an inspiration through all of this. Your impact on everyone around you and the wider WP community is huge – thank you for being so welcoming, fun, passionate and dedicated to your craft.

    “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

  14. Alex you have helped make WordPress community better. Your work and humbleness has always been an inspiration to me. I am at loss of words here. Three incredibly awesome developers I know of are dealing with the same thing. Godspeed my friend. THANK YOU for everything.

  15. Sending you love, and hope for peace. Thank you for everything you’ve been, everything you’ve built in your time here. We won’t forget, and the commit history won’t either.

  16. Sorry to hear it, man. I don’t know you personally but I’m one of millions who know and have benefited from your work. Just wanted to say thank you.

  17. There are no words that can make sense of this. I sincerely hope that you know that you’ve made a mark, are loved and appreciated. Thank you for everything.

  18. Though we never had much if any IRL interaction your code has regenerated a vast amount of thumbnails for me over the years! This is really sad to hear but your impact on WordPress and it’s community will live on for a long time to come. Wishing you and yours all the peace in the world at this time.

  19. Thinking of you and the wonderful things you’ve done for the world. It has been a great honor to have been able to know you online all these years. We all wish you the best and are thinking about you.

    🙂

  20. So sorry to hear this Alex, your legacy will definitely live on. I wish you and your family comfort at this time.

  21. Oh man, I’m so sorry, you have been a supestars in WP commincom.”Viper” plugins are something else, I hope they will go on.

  22. Like David I don’t know you personally as well but I’m also one of the millions who have benefited from your work. I’ve no other words except sending you the best wishes and thanks for all of your contributions for the community.

  24. I’m so sorry to hear this Alex! 🙁 Your legacy will live on. Stay strong and enjoy your time with your family and friends.

  25. From one dev to another – thank you for everything. Your work has helped shape WordPress into what we all know and love. Although we’ve never met I’ve used and recommended many of your plugins throughout the years and continue to do so to this day. Thank you for everything you’ve done, and continue to do. You are a true inspiration and the type of person everyone should strive to be more like. Wishing you all the best, my friend.

  26. I’m sorry to hear of your journey but I want to thank you for your plugins .. you’ve saved me many nights of pulling my hair out when I finally found them. Thank you so much for your contributions to the wordpress community .. there are thousands upon thousands of us who have used your tools, without ever knowing you. Thank you for your gifts and for your legacy.

  28. Hi Alex. I came across this article that was shared from an SEO Facebook group.

    Your regen thumbnails plugin was one of the first I ever used when starting out with WordPress.

    So sorry to hear about your battle. Thanks for your contributions.

  29. I also never meet you in person Alex, but I’ve been using many of your plugins. The first time I heard about your fight against leukemia was during the GM 2017 in Whistler. Words cannot express how sad I am that I cannot thank you in person for everything you did for the WordPress community. 😢Enjoy the time with your family and your legacy will surely live on. 🙏

  32. So sorry to read this Alex, hope you and your close-ones can now spend quality time together, extracting all the love, warmth and happiness out of life! And I’m sure that in the WordPress world you have made a lasting impact and that your legacy will indeed go on!

  34. Alex, I don’t know you personally but through some of your plugins. I was deeply saddened to read about your poor health. Try and stay positive (easier said I know) and make the very best of your remaining time with us and always remember that you made an impact on this world and have a legacy that will make you imortal.

  35. Regenerate Thumbnails has been one of my go-to plugins for years. Thanks for all the great work, I’m really sorry that you are going through this, and that we will lose a great member of the WordPress community.

  37. Hi. I’m sorry to hear this and I would like to thank you for your hard work.

    We developers tend to forget how important our family is.

    I hope you’ll have an amazing time with your family!

    Mădălin,
    Romania.

  39. When we hear about Leukemia in a such young age our heart just broke. I don’t think anybody can feel the pain your and your relatives. Thank you for all your work for the community. Your work and humbleness is an inspiration to me and to many others like me. Thank You!

  41. Dear Alex, I have known you only through your work and reading about your struggle. It’s how life is i guess, cherishing the moments we all have. What you should know is that you have made an impact on this world with your work and inspired many who were aware about your fight with Leukemia until the very end. Stay strong friend. Best wishes for you and your family.

  43. I’m so sorry Alex. I’m proud of you for all the strength and energy you’ve shown and shared.

    I am glad you’ve chosen to go back home on your own terms.

    Much love from half way around the world.

  46. You are, as someone else mentioned, one in a million. I’m so glad you get to spend time at home where you can be surrounded by love and family. Thanks for being a part of my life Alex.

  47. Just one more WordPresser that has followed your code for a decade but sadly never met you. Thank you for all your contributions to this community.

    Cancer sucks. Carpe Diem.

  48. Alex, you have shown so much strength through all of this. I’m sorry we never got the chance to really work together, but my life is enriched from having known you even a little and heard so many stories about you. Your legacy will absolutely and undoubtedly live on. I know you’ll make the most of your time on this earth, as you have up until now – I’m so glad we all got to witness it. Much love and comfort to you and your family and friends right now.

  49. Hey Alex,

    It’s hard to know how to react or what to say — I’m pretty dumbfounded. Thanks for your kindness, generosity, and all that you’ve shared with the world. It’s clear you’ve had a positive impact on many people (including me).

    Hope you find peace in your remaining days. Appreciate your family and all the love they have to give.

    Happy to help out however I can.

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