Still Me
A Man, His Tuba, and a
Life with Cancer
(formerly: Finding Harmony: A Man, His Tuba and a Battle with Cancer)
by Mike Martinson
The Story Behind the Memoir
"What happens when the "breath of life" is also your profession?
In Still Me, Mike Martinson chronicles an eight-month battle with cancer that should have ended his life. Instead, he reached for his tuba. Drawing on the "improvise or die" mentality of his Alaskan roots, Mike used music not as a metaphor for healing, but as a literal tool for survival.
Blending medical vulnerability with unexpected humor, this memoir follows a journey from physical failure to a profound connection with a German donor. It’s a testament to the fact that while disease may change your cells, it doesn't have to rewrite your story.
A Memoir of Hope, Humor, and Defiance
Mike with Multiple Myeloma (Bone Marrow Cancer)
Mike with Multiple Myeloma (Bone Marrow Cancer)
Mike with Multiple Myeloma (Bone Marrow Cancer)
Mike’s written journey began as a raw, real-time cancer blog during 37 weeks of intensive treatment in Seattle. Initially created to keep his high school band students informed and to ease their fears, these entries captured the daily realities of his fight. What started as a simple bridge to his classroom has evolved into a powerful, full-length memoir.
Over One Hundred Chemotherapy Infusions
Mike with Multiple Myeloma (Bone Marrow Cancer)
Mike with Multiple Myeloma (Bone Marrow Cancer)
Even after more than one hundred infusions, this story goes far beyond a medical log. It‘s a collection of personal anecdotes and hard-won life lessons. It's an invitation to experience an attitude of defiance that cherishes every small win in the fight for a meaningful life. Ultimately, it celebrates the power of the human spirit to find its rhythm, even in the face of devastating odds.
Finding Humor
Mike with Multiple Myeloma (Bone Marrow Cancer)
Finding Humor
Throughout months of brutal cancer treatments, humor remained Mike‘s constant companion. By lightening the mood during his toughest moments, he turns a painful cancer battle into a testament to endurance. This is a memoir about the defiant power of joy and the choice to smile when the odds seem overwhelming.
About Mike Martinson
Musician
Music Educator
Music Educator
A dedicated musician, Mike has been principal tubist with the Anchorage Symphony for more than 30 years. His versatile career includes solo performances, operas, musicals, and concerts throughout Alaska.
Music Educator
Music Educator
Music Educator
As a longtime music educator, Mike has dedicated his career to teaching high school students the power and beauty of music. His desire to reassure them that he was doing well during cancer treatment became the primary inspiration for his memoir, Still Me..
Tour Director
Music Educator
Tour Director
When he isn’t on the conductor’s podium or the symphony stage, Mike serves as a storytelling tour guide. He leads visitors through the rugged beauty of the Last Frontier, sharing the unique history and untamed spirit of Alaska. He brings that same Last Frontier spirit and narrative grit to the pages of his memoir.
More About Mike
Commercial Fishing
Alaskan Outdoorsman
Commercial Fishing
Mike ran a family commercial fishing business from the docks of Homer, Alaska, with his three children as his crew. They lived among diverse marine wildlife and the stunning beauty of Alaskan waters. That experience helped him build the endurance that later supported him during cancer treatment.
Gold Mining
Alaskan Outdoorsman
Commercial Fishing
Mike’s early years in Alaska were spent mining for gold. That experience cemented the work ethic that would later define his resilient fight against cancer.
Alaskan Outdoorsman
Alaskan Outdoorsman
Alaskan Outdoorsman
Mike is a true Alaskan outdoorsman who finds harmony in the solitude of the wilderness. His love for the state’s rugged beauty and wildlife gives him a rare perspective on life and fuels his powerful will to keep on living.