TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — No one appreciates the holidays more than someone who, at one time, believed they might not see another one.
Never has that been more true than in the life story of artist Christopher Johnson, who after surviving stage four cancer finally found his purpose in life and he says he owes it all to the doctor who saved him and a piece of unfinished artwork his father left behind.
In 2016 Christopher Johnson was a rodeo cowboy living in Iowa trying to find his way when he began to feel ill.
When he was finally diagnosed the news was not good, Christopher had stage 4 testicular cancer at the age of 23. After months of failed treatments his mother, Micki Johnson, began looking for help to save her son’s life.
“I reached out to three places in Arizona, had his records sent and one nice lovely lady named Carol called me and she was assistant to Dr. Ahmann”, said Johnson, “And she said get Chris out here Dr. Ahmann knows what they are doing wrong.”
Dr. Ahmann is Dr. Frederick Ahmann, a former oncologist at the U of A Cancer Center, who says when he first examined Christopher he was gravely ill.
“He would have died within 6 to 8 months, no doubt about that”, said Ahmann.
After convincing Christopher of his plan for treatment they saw the results immediately. Within five months Christopher rang the bell at the cancer center, having completed his treatments, in June Dr Ahmann declared Christopher cancer free. Micki Johnson credits Dr. Ahmann for her son’s miraculous recovery.
“He’s god’s miracle to us”, Johnson said, “We probably would have lost Chris if it wasn’t for him.”
Despite getting his life back the experience left Christopher struggling to move forward, searching for purpose. While he had dabbled in art prior to his illness it wasn’t until his mother gave him an unfinished sculpture created by his late father, Jeffrey Mix Johnson, that allowed him to discover his true calling. Christopher Johnson vividly remembers the day that would change his life.
“So my mom, she pulled this thing out of the closet and said here, maybe you can find someone to help you with it”, said Johnson, “And that was my mission after that.”
With his own hands, inspired by the work of his father, Christopher finished the bronze known as “Dismount”. The work unleashing a creative talent previously unrealized, leading to several other pieces, after a second chance at life.
“Now I know I have this piece that’s so important to me but I also can move forward and make some stuff of my own and just be happy you know.”
Christopher Johnson was one of Dr. Ahmann’s last patients before he retired in 2019. The two were recently reunited after nearly five years since Christopher was declared cancer free. Dr. Ahmann believes Christopher’s survival is just one of the gifts he received after battling and beating cancer.
“That’s what it’s all about, that’s what you want to see in anybody is that there gift at being alive is that he is experiencing wonderful things”, Ahmann said, “And to have those ties with his father and to find he has the same innate talents and skills that he has, that’s wonderful to see. I have never seen him this happy, never, it’s wonderful to see him today.”
Christopher’s mission now is to sell 50 of the sculptures in order to create a life size monument of “Dismount” to honor his father and celebrate the life he was destined to live. For more information go to cgjohnsonartist.com
