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. My heart is broken. We have known each other for years in the WordPress space, and you always brought energy and passion to the project and the people. I cannot say how many years I have benefited from what you gave to us, and you have always had my deepest respect. In my eyes you name is synonymous with WordPress excellence. Peace and love on your journey my friend.

  2. Sorry to know that. Please don’t give up hope. It’s okay to come back home from hospital. At the same time, please try to think of good memories, happy memories, the connection between each human being and the connection between humans and animals, the connection between the human, the creation of the universe, where we came from, where we are going towards. Please, please don’t give up yet.

  3. Hi Alex, I didn’t know who you are. But I’m one of your user regenerate thumbnail. Maybe you can go to penang malaysia to get some treatment. Many people with big health issue going there and comeback with a good news.

  4. Thanks for everything you’ve contribute to the world. We all leave this world eventually, some sooner than others. I think the important thing is to leave the world a better place than when you arrived. From what I’ve seen of your life, the world has definitely been a better place with your presence in it.

  5. So, so sorry to hear about this, Alex. I truly hope that you know that you’ve made a mark, are loved and appreciated with your contributions to the WordPress Project. I enjoyed our conversation in Tybee about life, WordPress and cars.

    You are in my thoughts, man.

  7. Alex, I’ve used your plugins over and over and over again. Your contributions to WordPress and the community have created a legacy that will endure and continue to make an impact. Wishing you peace and joy with family and friends.

  8. If modern medicine is failing you please look up “Panchakarma”. I am not sure what stage your cancer is on and don’t want to give you any false hope but this is a very rigorous practice that will cure you of practically anything as long as you are not too far gone. If you are serious Alex, go to New Delhi, India and get this done through an organization called Maharishi Ayurveda. They have centers all throughout US for this as well so I am not sure how effective it is here as it has to be performed by the right practitioner but please look into it.

    ~KM

  10. Leukemia has not won, your soul does not have cancer. Thank you for all of your contributions to WordPress but more importantly to the world and all that you have touched.

  11. Absolutely gutted reading this… a fucking horrible situation indeed. You’re showing some serious metal by CHOOSING to decline further treatment and instead going on YOUR TERMS. That’s one of those decisions that takes a seriously rare kind of bravery and you’ve showed you have it in spades – take pride in that if nothing else. Some may say it’s the same thing… not me, and I think not you as well.

    It’s all the difference in the world choosing your path to the close and having that choice made for you. Much Respect.

  13. While I didn’t personally know you, I’m sorry to hear this news and am happy to know you will be surrounded by family and friends. Thank you for all you’ve done for and contributed to the WordPress community! Prayers of peace, comfort, and love for you and yours.

  14. Few people can look back and say they have definitive proof something they created improved the lives of others. 1+ million downloads of your thumbnails plugin alone is more proof than most of us dare ever hope for. You made a difference. Know that in your heart of hearts.

  15. For what it’s worth, this total stranger in Toronto will be keeping you in his thoughts. Cancer has taken people I love before and I’m so sorry you have to deal with it too. In the end love is all we really have and I’m glad you’re going to be at home with the people you love the most.

  16. I’ve learned so much from you and will think of you warmly – in the end, that’s all any of us could or should wish for in this life. Go well, and leave knowing we’re better from you having been here.

  19. Sorry to hear this Alex. I remember meeting you at my first WordCamp (2008!) and you said you were hoping to one day get a job at Automattic (a company I had never heard of). Glad you’ve been able to achieve your goals and help so many through your code. Wishing you the best.

  20. Hi Alex,

    I’m a fellow developer. We don’t know each other.

    I’m still sorry to see that you are in this predicament. Best of luck in the coming days.

    Sincerely,

    Jay

  21. Hey Alex, I didn’t know you, I found you through HN, I read all of your post, such a terrible news 🙁 I feel really sorry, is not there any way to comeback! I believe in hereafter, hopefully you will take preparation in your coming days, best of luck 🙂

    Best wishes,
    Tasnim

  22. Oh, Alex. I’m in tears. Thank you for being so open with your battle. I hope the rest of your life is as comfortable as possible. You won’t be forgotten. Much love from here to eternity.

  23. Gracias Alex por todo lo que has compartido. Nunca será olvidado por la comunidad WordPress.
    Te envío desde España toda la fuerza, la paz y la energía que mereces.
    Un fuerte abrazo compañero.

    Thanks Alex for everything you’ve shared. It will never be forgotten by the WordPress community.
    I send you from Spain all the strength, peace and energy you deserve.
    A big hug mate.

  25. Thank you for all that you have done for Automattic and the WordPress community. We are so blessed to have spent time with you and learned from you. We love you Alex!

  27. I wish I had known you personally, Alex especially being a car/racing nut too and living just a short hop away in Seattle. But I feel like I knew you a bit from the early days of Top Gear and from your work on finalgear.com – especially all of those amazing TG torrents – thank you so much for that.

    I found out about this post from former co-workers at Cheezburger, they all speak the best of you. I wish we could all freeze time and make the moment last forever, but I’m grateful you’re now close with family and friends. Hope all of the love surrounds you, and blast off into the sunset on your favorite twisty road.

  28. Thank you so much Alex. You have help a lot of us in WordPress community. I hohe you have a great time with your friends and family. Best wishes.

  32. All the way from Jordan, I wish you all the comfort and peace you deserve. Thank you for all your work in the WordPress community.

  34. Oh man, I’m so so sorry, from way back in the early days you have always been synonymous with what it means to be involved with WP and while we never each other outside of that, lots of love to you, your family and your friends x

  35. Hi, I don’t know personally but if you’ve been a developer and more over a wordpreWo developper, we belong to the same family… I can’t just imagine what you’re leaving… I just want to thank you for your work… You’ve been awesome.

    I am Christian, so I pray to to make things easy on you.

    Love !

  36. Alex, I’m so sorry that you had to make this decision. It must be one of the hardest things to do, but I trust that you’re doing what’s right for yourself. I wish I’d known you better but from the few occasions I had the pleasure to drive with you, I know you’re a good person and an asset to humankind. You sure did give it a good fight. I will miss you. Enjoy your time with family and friends.

  37. Thank you Viper007Bond, you will be remembered forever in the WP community. Greetings and respect from Cali – Colombia.

  38. Alex – I use your regenerate thumbnails plugin on every site I build, and recommend it to everyone who is switching themes.

    I’m sorry that I didn’t get the chance to meet you in person – I know we would have bonded over our local of autos (particularly autoracing). I am sending positive thoughts that the time you have left is filled with the love of family and friends. You have the respect of the WordPress community

  39. Oh Alex, I haven’t known you or seen your story until today but this is still hard to read. You’ve done so much good for the WordPress community (thinking at least one plugin I’ve seen credited to you in the comments – regenerate thumbnails – I’ve probably used). I truly hope someone who’s a better programmer than I does fork your work and let it live on. I’m so sorry for your news. Cancer sucks and I hate it.

    I don’t want to be another person sounding like I’m critcizing your choice to stop treatment (even the best intentioned comment can hurt). I respect your choice completely. I know going home is hard but so are hospitals. Your choice is absolutely valid. That being said I will say concerning your title, cancer can only win the fight against your body and not your soul. Jesus made a way for all people to live eternally by trusting in Him. I know saying something deemed religious when someone has a terminal diagnosis is not popular, however I genuinely mean this comment not to be preachy but for your good that as you’re staring death in the face if you don’t believe in Jesus consider who He claimed to be. There is hope to be had even in light of exhausted medical options and a terminal diagnosis.

    “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬
    https://www.bible.com/59/rom.10.13.esv

    Peace. Praying for you tonight. Hope you enjoy your remaining days.

  40. Dear ALEX,
    Family and friends are the best gift in life, happy to know you’re with them. BUT do not give up. I am sending love and hugs from Thailand.

  42. Alex –

    You were the first person in the WordPress community who I met online and then met in person. I’m grateful for the times in IRC, your unconference session at WordCamp Portland 2009, and the handful of other times we got to spend time together. Thank you for enriching my life and all you’ve done.

  43. Your nick/handle is familiar from my years on the fringes of the WP universe, and I recently discovered Regenerate Thumbnails, to great delight. I am terribly sorry to hear of cancer taking down another WordPress hero—thank you for all of your contributions, and I will keep you and your loved ones in my thoughts in the days to come.

  44. We have never met but I hope your open source contributions live on, and each time they are installed they remember you. Prayers and positive thoughts from California.

  45. Hello Alex,
    Thank you very much for all your contributions on WordPress. I use your tools every day, for so long. I wish you to spend intense moments with your loved ones.
    With all my friendship.

  46. Hi Alex – we’ve chatted many times in the past, especially in the earlier days of WP. I’ve used your code, enjoyed your tweets, and we’ve chatted cars a few times too.

    Much love to you from Liverpool, UK.

    Dave

  47. Hi Alex, I have used your plugin in the past and I am praying for you, you are a strong man, more than me… I don’t even know how I would be able to handle it… peace be with you and your family… You will be remembered.

  48. Hi Alex, thank you for open sourcing your work. I have been a thankful user of your thumbnail plugin. And thank you for sharing this difficult moment. I wish you peace..

  49. Pingback: WPWeekly Episode 346 – Cancer Sucks – WordPress Tavern

  50. Thank you Alex for sharing your difficult journey and fighting. Your legacy will live on because you’ve impacted so many people, more than you probably realize. I personally am thankful for having had the opportunity to work alongside you at Automattic and will always remember our fierce competition at the grand meetup go-kart outings 🙂

    Love you man. Praying for peace for you and your family.

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