“I used to be a baseball player,” George told his doctor at TCH the first time he met her.  “What do you mean, used to be,” she asked.  “With cancer, I won’t get to play this year, “ George replied.  “Yes you can,” assured his doctor.

Two weeks after George’s high school freshman year ended, he complained of a sinus infection.  A trip to the doctor where antibiotics were prescribed.  George was sent home.

A month later, George thought the sinus infection was back.  Another trip to the doctor, but this time, no infection, only a lump under his ear on the right side of his neck.  Probably mono.  That was going around.  The next day, the doctor called with negative blood results. 

That night George experienced excruciating jaw pain, which continued every other day for the next week.  After a 4-day journalism conference, George came home, looking bad; with more jaw pain.  He grew more lethargic over the weekend.  Two nights later, George looked in the mirror and his neck had “blown up”.  He saw a surgeon 48-hours later, had CT Scans the day after and George was off to TCH.

 

He arrived at TCH ER on July 28^th, 2005 with a CT Scan report in hand.  Upon review, along with blood work results, Lymphoma was confirmed. 

 

George was taken to surgery less than 24 hours after arriving at the TCH ER.  A biopsy of the lump in his neck was done, a central line was inserted, and a Bone Marrow Aspiration was done in both hips.

 

The diagnosis:  Atypical, B-cell Burkitt’s Lymphoma, stage 4 in his neck, upper and lower abdomen, a kidney, and bone marrow.  This is a very rare, very aggressive, and very curable type of cancer, according to doctors. 

 

A nine month protocol of aggressive Chemotherapy with 10 Lumbar Punctures that included intrathecal chemotherapy to his spinal fluid (which he took no anesthesia, only local meds.  George was awake!)  He also had several Bone Marrow Aspirations (under anesthesia).  George’s biggest fear—throwing up!  It happened only once.

 

After 6 chemo rounds, all scans were repeated in early December.  That was when George was informed that he was officially in REMISSION!  Cancer Free.

 

George went back to school at the end of March.  Twenty-seven hours after his central line was removed, George hit a ground ball to end the game against the Woodlands.  The crowd went wild.  Tears were shed; it was the most emotional out any player has ever made.  George was back on the baseball field as his doctor had predicted.

 

Thanks to George and his parents, Eileen and Ray, for providing Snowdrop Foundation this information.