Luke
fighting Hodgkin's Lymphomia
Before being diagnosed with stage IV hodgkin's lymphoma, I was a busy student-athlete. I was involved in football, basketball, baseball, track, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and National Honors Society during my time at Oregon City Schools. Outside of school, I was very active with my church, volunteering in children's church and helping with the audio-visual department. Summers had been spent playing travel baseball, participating in football workouts, hanging out at Cedar Point, and working with the grounds crew at the Oregon Recreation Department. I often volunteered at a number of youth summer camps through my church and at Clay High School, where I helped to encourage and train the younger generation.
I graduated with honors and was looking forward to attending college at the University of Toledo to earn a degree in a healthcare field. A month before school started, I went to an allergist due to chronic itching that was not being relieved by other treatments my PCP suggested. Thankfully, the allergist did blood work, in which he discovered I was anemic and suggested I follow up with my doctor. Many tests were performed, but I proceeded with college, until it was eventually discovered that I had hodgkin's lymphoma. The oncologist suggested I take a medical leave of absence to focus on my health. I started 6 rounds of outpatient chemotherapy and things were going great other than the typical fatigue, nausea, and isolation struggles. After the first PET scan, I got encouraging news that the cancer was responding, but unfortunately, after the fourth round, another PET scan was performed, and the cancer had started to grow back again. I couldn't believe it and I was so disappointed that I wasn't almost done with this tough journey. From that point, I started immunotherapy to hopefully maintain the progress I had made and my local oncologist referred me to a lymphoma specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. The lymphoma specialist suggested a treatment plan that involved intense chemotherapy, along with a stem cell transplant. Currently I am recovering in Cleveland, and have been confined to the bone marrow transplant unit for 20 days. The intense chemotherapy was no joke. I have been on oxygen, had many blood cultures done, along with chest and head CT scans to make sure I didn't have infections due to my struggle with a consistent fever. I have lost 25 pounds since my admission, but finally each day seems a tad bit better than the one before. I am looking forward to going home soon!
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
For my Nik's wish, I would love to go to Hawaii with my parents, three sisters, and my two brother-in-laws. While there, if possible I would really like to do some fishing and maybe even learn how to surf. I chose this wish, because the last 8 months have been such a challenge for me and my family, and it would be nice to get away to a tropical location and do our best not to think about the struggles I have endured throughout this journey. I believe it would be a boost to my mental health and be great to make dream like memories with my family. Thank you for the opportunity to be placed on your waiting list and hopefully eventually be considered for this wish.