Inspirational Stories

I was diagnosed with large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) on May 2, 2023. It was such a shock to me, but months prior to the diagnosis, I already wasn’t feeling well. I was dealing with body aches every day, and nothing would help take the pain away. It wasn’t until I had a bad case of food poisoning that I ended up in the ER. After multiple scans, doctors were concerned about a suspicious mass on my chest. After more tests and biopsies, I started my journey fighting NHL. 

I’m a registered nurse, so being on the other side of the picture was tough to deal with. I’ve always been an advocate for my patients, but this time I needed that from my fellow nurses and doctors. It was a tough six rounds of aggressive treatment having to get chemotherapy every 2½ weeks. Each round I progressively got worse, and the biggest heartbreak was when I noticed my hair was falling out. It really sunk in that I was going through this process. But I had faith and the support of all my friends and family. I married my best friend during the treatment and struggled to stay standing at the court wedding because I was fresh out of the third round of chemo. After six tough treatments, my PET scan revealed that the cancer was gone. 

I’m forever grateful to all my doctors and nurses who helped me through the process, but I couldn’t have done it without God and especially the support of my wife, parents, friends, and family. I’m always willing to share my story with people, especially my patients at work. It’s made me a better nurse because I’m able to empathize and understand the position they’re in when in the hospital.