Survivor Spotlight will feature pediatric cancer survivors’ experiences in their own words.

As for the treatment, I’m still working on it. I do know I was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) in 1997 when I was in 7th grade. It started really fast with chemotherapy and radiation.  I missed out on a lot for about a year and a half. I was home schooled, and couldn’t play any sports because I was too weak and the risk of getting sick kept me away from school. It was rough but I got through it. You have to have the right mind set. Listen to the doctors and nurses and have the fight to want to live.  Family, friends, prayer, and my port (I’m afraid of needles) played a big part. I consider myself very lucky.

For a long time I was embarrassed to tell people I had cancer.  I joked about what my scar was from my port and just avoided it all together.  I felt that it made me “different”.  That is until I met my now wife in 2010.  She is an oncology nurse and she told me I should be proud of what I have accomplished.  She shared stories about some of her patients who didn’t make it or some who wanted to talk to a survivor.  It wasn’t until then that I realized that I beat something and that not everyone does.  We now celebrate every year after my yearly appointment.  I now have a son and one more on the way.  When my doctor was excited because about 50% of patients are unable to have children, this again made me realize how very lucky I am.

I have hypothyroidism and I take synthroid to control that.  I get an echo every other year from the Vincristine chemotherapy.  Other than that, I am pretty healthy.

To stay active, I play a lot of golf.  I get out there any chance I can get.  In the winter months I work out at the gym.

Thank you for sharing your story, Chris!