Micah with his parents, Jason and Felicia Winkle, at his "No More Chemo" Party the day he finished chemotherapy treatments.
Rock climbers start their climb not knowing how they will finish. Micah Winkle and his family didn’t know what life would bring when the 9-year-old was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in 2015.
Doctors at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital removed a tumor and surrounding tissue from his left leg. They were able to preserve the leg, but Micah could no longer take part in contact sports. His leg wasn’t strong enough to take the impact.
Micah tried other sports that did not involve physical contact such as archery and golf. Later he met the owner of a rock-climbing gym at a St. Jude fundraising event. He invited Micah and his family to try rock-climbing.
“Once he got into the gym, we saw healing—I mean physical healing but then also emotional healing for him,” Micah’s father, Jason, said. “He began to blossom and thrive again.”
Once he got into the gym, we saw healing—I mean physical healing but then also emotional healing for him.
Jason Winkle, Micah’s dad
Micah won the U.S. national paraclimbing championships in 2021 and 2022. He competed in the world championships in Moscow, Russia, placing 7th.
“I was crazy scrawny, this twig of a kid,” Micah said. “I started climbing and built more body mass. I was not good at all when I started out. As you continue climbing, you continue getting better. For a new climber, the best way to push yourself and get better is to climb everything. The more you climb, the more you learn.”
Related Stories
-
After Cancer Treatment
Even after you have finished cancer treatment at St. Jude, we are still here for you. Our goal is to help all childhood cancer survivors live long and happy lives.
-
After Completion of Therapy Clinic
The After Completion of Therapy Clinic (ACT Clinic) helps childhood cancer survivors stay healthy.
-
St. Jude LIFE Study
In the St. Jude LIFE study, childhood cancer survivors return to St. Jude for complete health testing throughout their adult lives.
-
Life After Cancer
Read about childhood cancer survivors and how unique St. Jude research programs help them not just survive, but lead happier, healthier adult lives.
-
Transition Oncology Program
The St. Jude Transition Oncology Program (TOP) was designed to help patients smoothly transition back home following the completion of therapy.
-
St. Jude Survivor Box: Celebrating Our Patients and Survivors
St. Jude patients and survivors are honored each year with the interactive St. Jude Survivor Box, which includes enamel survivorship pins and educational materials. Learn more.
More patient stories
-
Meet Dr. Bradley Muller
But Bradley Muller, MD, an Instructor in the Department of Immunology, approaches this work from a unique perspective. Muller is both a medical doctor who takes care of children with cancer and a laboratory researcher searching for new and better treatments. He’s also a childhood cancer survivor.
-
Caring for the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Yike Huang uses art as part of her treatment to improve not only her physical well-being but also her mental and emotional well-being. Learn more.
-
Finding Light in the Darkness
Friendships and memory-making activities helped Grace Hilton during her cancer treatment. Read more about Grace’s story.
-
Virtual reality helps Nancy Rios understand her son Yariel’s surgery for Ewing sarcoma
Learn how virtual reality is being used at St. Jude to help educate patients and families about surgical procedures such as that used to treat Ewing sarcoma.
-
St. Jude LIFE Participant Brings Hope to Others
Childhood cancer survivor inspires hope in others
-
Thanks to a St. Jude clinical trial, Olivia and her family are living “in the now”
Over a decade of research brings a treatment to the forefront for children with low-grade gliomas. For Olivia Thatcher, that treatment came at the right time.
-
Writing her story helps Indiana teen process her emotions
Through the St. Jude ChronCan study, Jinger Vincent uses creative writing to process her cancer experience.
-
PFCC offers mom a way to help others, give back
Caregiver reflects on giving back to St. Jude
-
Challenges Can’t Keep Jolly Down
Jolly Green tackles severe aplastic anemia thanks to St. Jude, faith, and family. Read his story.
-
Patient reflects on 60th anniversary as childhood cancer survivor
Patient reflects on her 60th anniversary as a childhood cancer survivor
-
Patient finds support, help and hope for Friedrich’s ataxia
Taylor Hurdle is taking part in a clinical trial for Friedreich’s ataxia at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
-
Finding Hope in Clinical Trials
A medulloblastoma clinical trial offered hope to 7-year-old Kinlee Johnson and her family. Learn more.
-
From Pain Crises to Good Vibes
Rashawn Hendrix says St. Jude doctors take his sickle cell pain seriously and that help him manage.it.
-
Family chooses St. Jude because of SAMD9/SAMD9L researcher
Family chooses St. Jude for care because of its expertise in SAMD9/SAMD9L syndrome.
-
Research may help Camille take her first steps
Research conducted by the Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics may help patients like Camille, who has type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, gain the ability to walk.