As a well-known businessman, Mike McNeely’s charisma and loyal friendships are legendary in his Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, community. His larger-than-life personality and tournament-winning golf skills even earned him the nickname “Big Cat” as a young adult that has stuck with him throughout his lifetime.
But when he was diagnosed with severe liver disease in August 2022 at age 58, his lifestyle instantly became much quieter. After an evaluation at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, he was put on a liver transplant list. In December 2023, additional tests found liver cancer.
At some transplant centers, liver cancer would make someone ineligible for a transplant, but the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center is one of only a handful of transplant centers in the country that has the expertise and treatment options to offer liver transplant to patients with certain liver cancers.
Mike received a specialized treatment to kill liver cancer cells and cut off the tumor’s blood supply. By January 2024, Mike was back on the liver transplant list with a more urgent, elevated status. The McNeelys expected a long wait, but the St. Louis Cardinals brought Mike a much-needed win.
Cardinals Magic Delivers the Call
The Cardinals have always held a special place in Mike’s life. As a child, he took many family road trips to games and savored “pop” at the old Busch Stadium. After college, Mike even played for the minor league Cardinals team for a few seasons.
But the real Cardinals magic came when Mike got the call from Barnes-Jewish Hospital that a donor liver was available while he was driving to St. Louis with a friend to see a baseball game on May 21, 2024.
“I looked at my friend and was in tears,” Mike recalls. “I had a million emotions.”
Since they were already on their way to St. Louis, they headed for Barnes-Jewish Hospital rather than the stadium.
Mike quickly called his wife, Gail, who was at work in Bloomington. She wasted no time getting on the road for the 140-minute drive to St. Louis. Their two adult sons soon followed. 
Sharing Sunrises To Celebrate Life
Once Mike checked in at the hospital, he felt mentally and physically prepared for what was ahead.
Maria Majella Doyle, MD, MBA, FRCS, was Mike’s WashU Medicine liver transplant surgeon at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “She was compassionate and confident and made me feel reassured,” Mike says. “The whole team is part of a well-oiled machine.”
Mike’s life began to change immediately after transplant. “When we first saw him in the ICU, we noticed his color was better, and he already looked healthier,” Gail says. “He did remarkably well the whole time, and the team was very attentive. Everything ran like clockwork.”
Mike and Gail, who were high school sweethearts, shared sunrises over the St. Louis skyline every day during his recovery as they walked the hospital hallways. “St. Louis holds a special place in our hearts, and as the sun came up each day, Mike was getting better and better,” Gail says. “We have not taken one second for granted. He’s here for a reason, and we’re living and loving life.”
Mike agrees. “When we watched the sunrises together, it was like a new chapter beginning. Before transplant, I said my goodbyes, and I woke up and said hello. I have a second chance at life. I appreciate everything more now.”
An Idea Is Born for Battle
While Mike was still in the hospital, he began to hatch an idea to raise awareness of organ donation, along with cancer, heart disease, and transplant—things that had impacted him as well as close friends.
“When Mike gets something in his mind, he finds a way to get it done,” Gail says. “One day in the hospital, I saw he had written and underlined ‘Fight Like Hell, Keep Battling’ with names and notes. Then, he told me he was going to do a fundraiser.”
One of Mike’s friends was at the end of a five-year battle with cancer and had tried to encourage Mike by saying, “Fight like hell, Big Cat.”
“I took that slogan and added ‘Keep Battling’ as an inspirational message to others battling cancer and other diseases—for those who fought and lost and for those who are still fighting,” Mike says.
Community Generosity Overflows
Mike’s plan grew into a full-fledged party with music and dancing that was scheduled to happen just a few months after his transplant. However, Mike’s transplant nurse coordinator discouraged the idea because of the risk of infection so soon after transplant.
But Mike was determined. To be safer, the event was pushed back by several weeks, and the guest list was kept a little smaller. Community members came forward to help sponsor the event, paying for the band, food, table décor, printing, and more.
In the end, nearly 200 guests showed up at the local VFW for the special event held Nov. 23, 2024. With friends, colleagues, family, and even some nurses all coming together, the event raised more than $18,000. Donations continued to pour in even weeks after the event. The fundraising efforts benefit the Levinson Muñoz Family Fund at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, which supports ongoing abdominal surgery and transplant research under the direction of Dr. Doyle and her team.
Dr. Doyle is the Mid-America Transplant/Department of Surgery Endowed Distinguished Chair in Abdominal Transplantation, which was established through a collaboration between Mid-America Transplant, the Foundation, and WashU Medicine’s Department of Surgery.
“I wanted to build awareness about cancer, liver, heart disease, and transplant, along with research,” Mike says. “At the end of the day, I hope I can help save someone else’s life.”
Getting Big Cat Back
The outpouring of support brings Gail to tears. “We were touched by all the people who gave—it didn’t matter if they gave $20 or $5,000. Mike’s purpose was to celebrate life and improve awareness about organ donation, and he did that. The amount of money raised is a testament to Mike and his friendships and loyalties and the love people have for him. They see the difference organ donation makes. They could see the change in him.”
Gail says that Mike’s liver transplant has brought many positives into their lives.
“I’ve got my Big Cat back—the guy who likes to joke, dance, and have fun. Trying to imagine life without him is a difficult thing to do. Now, I don’t have to do that. We look forward to watching our grandkids grow up, and every day is a blessing.”
Written by Joyce Romine