Game Over, Lymphoma!

David is a young man with a very big heart. He grew up a happy and healthy person with the personality of a free spirit. Rarely a cold, rarely a complaint about anything at all.

Unaware of his illness and thinking he had the flu, he forced himself to go to work and school for several months no matter how shitty he felt.

Finally, after months of dealing with a high fever, muscle pain and various other major symptoms, he was a work and had symptoms of a heart attack which sent him to the ER. Couldn't breathe, couldn't speak, and was vomiting.

There, he was admitted. Not realizing the severity of his condition...he told the doctor that he MUST get to work and cover his shift. The doctor told him that if he leaves, he could die.
For the next several days he had a full team of doctors working to figure out what was wrong with him. He was seen by a disease control specialist, a blood specialist, a gastroentologist and tested for a multitude of diseases including tuberculosis and colitis. His bodily inflammation rate was 250. The average healthy person has an inflammation rate of .45. His red and white blood cell counts were off the charts and he needed a total of 7 blood transfusions. It took over ten days for the medical specialists to finally get an idea of his diagnosis.

A week later, David was diagnosed with Lymphoma. All of us nearly fainted upon hearing the words. I had to catch David in my arms due to his distress. CANCER? No way. He's only 22 we said.
Well, cancer doesn't target any specific age group. It's pretty much a roll of the dice. No family history and nothing he did contributed to his cancer.

After that, it was an uphill battle. Probably more for me than him. He required a bone marrow test which was the worst experience of his life. I had to leave the room. 20 minutes later he bounced right back and was making jokes. I would have spent the rest of the day feeling sorry of myself. Not David. His life has been completely turned upside down and inside out. No more work. No more school. 10 different pills daily, constant treatments, constant blood testing & transfusions. All things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. There was a day in particular that he needed to be at the hospital at 7:30am and attend 4 different doctors appointments, back to back. He shows up and does it all with the most positive attitude! His treatments kick his but and he isn't bothered by any of it. Above all, he's notably and surprisingly turned out to be the strongest person I know. Still funny, still humorous and could care less about anything other than getting better! Loves his friends, loves his family and loves LIFE!

Thank you,

Christie Jones