When you are born with a family name like SUPER, there can be some pressure to do that name justice. To Craig Super — a father and grandfather — it came naturally. He is fun-loving, has the biggest heart and is always willing to offer a helping hand.
Feeling Less Than Super
Because of his deep voice and laugh, Craig is known as Frog to those closest to him, the name stuck during a game of stickball when he was a kid. And those affectionate nicknames continue. "We call him Super Grandpop because there is never a moment when he doesn't make us laugh or smile — even when he's not feeling well," shares his daughter Alyssa.
Summer 2019 marked a change for the Super family; that's when Craig started to not feel like his usual energetic self. Routine bloodwork showed drastically low counts and by January 2020 he was given a potential diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer that prevents immature blood cells in the bone marrow from maturing to healthy blood cells. Craig was recommended to wait and see how things progressed for 6 months before a definitive diagnosis.
Super Optimism
Craig's sense of humor mixed with super optimism was the perfect mix for what he and his family were soon to face. "I am a gambling man, Doc. You say there is a 20% chance it kills me, and I see it as an 80% chance I will be around for my new grandson," says Super with a smile.
Not a surprise, Craig isn't the only SUPER in the Super in the family. His daughter Alyssa is a nurse at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and advocated for her father to seek a second opinion at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center. There, they were greeted by Douglas Beach, MD who had already familiarized himself with Craig's case and while he confirmed the diagnosis of MDS, he shared alternative treatment options to consider, so that no matter their decision, they could explore all avenues.
No Challenge Too Great
The Supers stuck with Dr. Beach and Penn. They would go through a long journey together including chemotherapy and the coordination of a bone marrow transplant — all during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Beach was a consummate advocate and motivating force as the Supers faced challenge after challenge.
Meeting His Match
Dr. Beach recommended that Craig receive a bone marrow transplant, but unfortunately, no one in Craig's family was a match. But hope was not lost because there were more than ten matches for Craig from the national bone marrow registry. Craig is eternally grateful to everyone who has participated in a bone marrow donation drive, regardless of if they were a match for him or not.
With a match in place, Craig began his chemotherapy regimen. However, as Thanksgiving approached, and with a compromised immune system, he contracted COVID-19.
Craig's bone marrow transplant would have to wait for his full recovery, which he did, only to shortly after contract pneumonia that left him hospitalized for 9 days — and yet again delayed his transplant procedure.
"If the last few years have shown anything, it's that not everything is in our control, but that we can adapt and persevere with the right team in place — that's why we are so grateful he is being cared for at Penn," shares Craig's wife Karen.
Super Powers Restored
Finally, in March 2021, under the expert care of bone marrow transplant leader, David Porter, MD, he received his transplant. Thanks to the healing hands of some of the most dedicated, compassionate transplant staff and one last chemo-radiation treatment, the Super Family received the news they had been waiting for since the start of Craig's cancer journey — on June 9, 2021, Craig learned he had no evidence of disease.
On a Mission to Give Back
To celebrate his 1st Cancerversary, or as he refers to it as his "1st Birthday" in his new life, and true to his big heart, Craig is hosting a "beef and brew" at his local American Legion with all the proceeds benefitting the teams that helped restore his SUPER powers.
"Penn is amazing, man. I want to give back as much as I can — they gave me everything. They gave me time with my grandbabies and more time with my wife and children — that is everything."
To all the SUPER fathers and grandfathers out there — today and every day, we celebrate YOU!