Budding musician to donate album proceeds to cancer patient


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SANDY — Six weeks ago, Jamie Miller went to her doctor because she was having migraines. It turned out what she had was actually leukemia.

The young mother of two is getting help from a young pianist who understands what she's going through. That's because he battled and beat cancer seven years ago when he was 15 years old.

Several weeks ago, Miller went to her doctor because of migraines. Her doctor did some blood work. The next day, her doctor told her go to the emergency room for a more complete blood work-up. Her husband, Mark, was at work, when doctors told her she had leukemia. She felt a little overwhelmed.

"I knew leukemia was bad, but I didn't understand anything of like, what was happening," she said. "I was a deer in the headlights. They were telling me so many things."

She went to her husband's work, and just told him, "I have leukemia." Then they both went back to the hospital to start her treatment.


I knew leukemia was bad, but I didn't understand anything of like, what was happening. I was a deer in the headlights. They were telling me so many things.

–Jamie Miller


She spent the next five weeks at LDS hospital. She said she did very well with the first round of chemo.

"I felt a little bit nauseous and maybe threw up a little bit, but I wasn't sick," she said.

It was difficult, being in a hospital bed, she said, because she didn't feel sick.

"You know you have this life outside of the hospital, and it's going on without you and you can't do anything," she said.

Jamie and Mark said it's overwhelming to know that so many people care for them. When they found out what Austin Westley was doing for them, they said they were "overwhelmed."

"Things like Austin is doing, and family and friends, it makes you feel overwhelmed with love," Mark said.

Westley's mother is friends with Jamie. She suggested he donate his album proceeds for Jamie's medical needs. He liked the idea. Westley finished recording his debut album in January, and all the proceeds will go to Jamie and her family.

He knows the importance of emotional support when one is battling cancer. He went through chemotherapy for a year and is now cancer free.


I tried to stay as normal and positive as I could, and there were times it was really bad, but I made it through it.

–Austin Westley


"I tried to stay as normal and positive as I could, and there were times it was really bad, but I made it through it," he said. He hopes his music will inspire, and maybe even help with healing, too.

"Any help that you can get from the community, anything you can get from your family, seems like it builds you up," he said.

His CD is available on iTunes or by making a minimum donation of $7 for one CD at a Mountain America Credit Union. The fund is in the name of Mark and Jamie Miller. After a person makes a donation, they can send an email with their address information to cdsforjamie@gmail.com.

CDs will also be available at the yard sale that family and friends are holding on April 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Reams Food Stores at 10670 S. 700 East in Sandy. More information can be found on the Facebook page "Our Fight Against Cancer - yard sale."

The Millers said the support from family, friends and the community helps them know that they are not alone. They said it has eased the burden of their difficult journey.

When she beats this, Jamie plans to help other people just in the way that Austin is helping her. She isn't sure how she is going to do it, but she said she is going to pay it forward.

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Jed Boal

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