By Taylor McMahon

Leon Dean of Students and Athletics Director Mark Feely, who is currently in full remission from multiple myeloma,  is celebrating the holidays this year with a new take on life.

“It makes everything a little different,” said Feely, who underwent an extreme treatment regimen during the summer and received the best possible news in the fall.

Feely’s children treated their father to a forty-sixth birthday dinner recently, and are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with him in town this year.

He talked about how birthdays aren’t so important to people his age, but to someone in his situation, “birthdays are a really big deal.”

Feely’s new lease on life has made him a more laid-back person.

“I don’t let little things bother me as much,” Feely said.

The visits to the doctor and treatments aren’t all over yet. Feely still has a myriad of pills to take every day and will be visiting Shands Hospital in Gainesville on Jan. 5 for tests to check his recovery.

He’s happy to admit he’s feeling better, although he can’t work at the same pace as he used to.

“I’m used to going at 110 miles per hour,” Feely said. “Now I have to cut it back to…I’d say about 70.”

His renewed health has also helped his relationship with his kids.

“We’re having more tickle fights now,” Feely said.