FORMER BUFF WEATHERSPOON STRICKEN WITH MDS
BOULDER ? Former University of Colorado fullback Anthony Weatherspoon, one of the key players in CU’s turnaround in the mid-1980s, has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and is in need of a bone marrow transplant.
Married and the father of three young daughters, Weatherspoon resides in Orange, Calif., and has been on leave from his job as a financial advisor since July, when he first took ill. Back on July 12, he had some dizzy spells and was spitting up blood, much of it clotted.
An ensuing trip to the emergency room and follow-up testing eventually revealed that he had
Myelodysplastic Syndrome, OR MDS, as well as Myelofibrosis. It is a rare blood disease where the bone marrow doesn’t produce the right kind of white blood cells in the body to fight infection.
Doctors believe it is still in the early stages and if a matching donor can be found, Weatherspoon can beat the disease. The first donor didn’t produce a match, and a second donor’s marrow is currently in the lab, but it takes anywhere from 10 to 15 days to obtain the results. Weatherspoon is currently in decent spirits, and is also looking at a possible move to Texas to be admitted by MD Anderson, a progressive hospital in the area of blood disorders.
“Spoon” as he was known throughout his playing days at CU between 1984 and 1987, is at peace with what has happened to him, but is concerned for his family. His wife, Jacqueline, not only has to take care of him, but his three daughters, Tasha (8), and two special need children, Julissa (7) and Destiny (4).
“God’s blessed me with it (MDS), so there must be a reason for me having it,” Weatherspoon said. “You can’t waste time worrying about why; maybe that’s because you mature when you have a family and kids, and that’s how I see things.
“My wife’s done absolutely everything, and she’s been a true blessing. What a diamond, a very special woman.”
He’s been taking chemo pills to combat the illness and to try to keep the symptoms from advancing, which could turn the MDS into acute leukemia. But he and his wife are also using what has happened to him to try and raise awareness of the disease, especially among minorities.
“Anybody and everyone can do it,” Weatherspoon says of donating bone marrow and blood. “I’m trying to boost awareness of this disease, educate them, and especially to get minorities to donate. You can also keep your own healthy blood and marrow in reserve if you get ill yourself. This might not save my life, but it might save someone else’s.”
The City of Hope through Household Finance, Weatherspoon’s employer, coordinated a blood drive in Anthony’s name earlier this week to raise awareness among minorities to donate.
He has received a lot of support from his former teammates and coaches at Colorado, something that he also feels blessed with.
“I’ve talked to probably 20 teammates through all this, and when I was able to do it, I’ve been trading e-mails,” he said. “It was also very uplifting to talk to Coach (Bill) McCartney. He’s has a way with that and he hasn’t changed. So it’s encouraging to me that so many people care.”
Weatherspoon was a key player in CU’s switch to the wishbone offense under McCartney in 1985. That season, he led the team in rushing with 569 yards, and was second the following season with 581. His 1,193 career yards stands 35th all-time at the school. He rushed for 101 yards in a 21-17 win over Oregon in 1985, his top single-game yardage effort.
One of Spoon’s former teammates, Jim Smith, has taken an active role in keeping other players informed about what has been going on. “I think that this is a time that we can reach out and offer our support. Let's not leave a member of the Colorado family to fight this fight on his own,” Smith eloquently wrote in one of several e-mails to former Buffs.
As one can expect, money is tight for the Weatherspoons, and a fund has been set up to help the family pay some of the mounting medical bills. Those interested in donating can do so by contributing to The Anthony Robert Weatherspoon Fund, c/o Quaker City Bank, 8160 East Santa Ana Canyon Road, Suite 184, Anaheim Hills, CA 92808 (714-279-8900).
Former teammates who wish to contact Spoon directly can call or e-mail Dave Plati for his personal information; Plati's contact info is 303-492-5626 or david.plati@colorado.edu.