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Marty Lessow plays with his 10-year-old golden retriever, Woods, at his home in Breckenridge. Lessow,
who has lived in Breck since 1973, underwent a successful blood stem cell transplant in Denver last spring
to cure non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lessow is now healthy and ready to open a second store — Breckenridge Mountain Kids — in Breck on Nov. 14.
BRECKENRIDGE — Marty Lessow, owner of Marty's for Kids in Breckenridge, is cancer free after a blood stem cell transplant performed in May.
Lessow originally went to the hospital more than two years back with heart problems, and that's when doctors discovered his cancer infection. He's been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma during what he calls “Marty's great adventure.”
“I knew I was going to make it,” Lessow said. “There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I was going to kick its butt.”
He credits his friends and family for his amazing recovery, along with his never-give-up attitude.
“So many people were so nice to me. I had too many people depending on me to beat it,” Lessow said. “When I would be hurting and sick or depressed,
I would become a warrior and that's when I'd fight. Don't ever let it beat you!”
After the transplant, Lessow stayed in Denver to recover under his doctor's supervision until mid-July, when his test results came up cancer free. He was originally supposed to stay on the Front Range until mid-August.
“Coming back to Breckenridge in July was an incredibly emotional day,” Lessow said.
Lessow originally went to the hospital more than two years back with heart problems, and that's when doctors discovered his cancer infection. He's been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma during what he calls “Marty's great adventure.”
“I knew I was going to make it,” Lessow said. “There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I was going to kick its butt.”
He credits his friends and family for his amazing recovery, along with his never-give-up attitude.
“So many people were so nice to me. I had too many people depending on me to beat it,” Lessow said. “When I would be hurting and sick or depressed,
I would become a warrior and that's when I'd fight. Don't ever let it beat you!”
After the transplant, Lessow stayed in Denver to recover under his doctor's supervision until mid-July, when his test results came up cancer free. He was originally supposed to stay on the Front Range until mid-August.
“Coming back to Breckenridge in July was an incredibly emotional day,” Lessow said.
Lessow's zest for life
In 1973, a 30-year-old Lessow came to Breckenridge to ski, and he made the mountain town his home.“Skis, boots, poles, pass — figure out how to pay rent later,” Lessow said, describing what drove him in his move to Breck. “I love skiing, but the small mountain community was always No. 1.”
In 1978, Lessow opened Marty's T-Shirts (it closed after nine years), and then he started Marty's for Kids in 1986— a ski and snowboard clothing store that's operated for 23 years.
He's currently working hard to open yet another store — Breckenridge Mountain Kids — on Nov. 14 in the old Wildflower building next to Abby Hall.
“I saw it as an opportunity to expand floor space,” he said of an idea he came up with while recovering in Denver.
Woods, his 10-year-old dog, will be an ever-present fixture in the store, Lessow added.
“If there's anyone in Summit County with cancer that needs to talk, call me,” Lessow said. He said he wants to help people with his own experience undergoing cancer treatment and his recovery. Lessow's phone number is (970) 406-0614.
Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.
