MY STory
As a lively 22-year-old guy, my life was about to change forever.
In 2011, I started to notice that my right leg was slightly larger than my left. As a normal male, I thought that the imbalance would simply go away in time. I later became worried about it, and asked a few guys at work what I should do. They agreed that it probably wasn’t anything to worry about, but that it wouldn’t hurt just to see what the doctor had to say.
I went to the doctor, and they seemed to know right away that, for someone my age, something was not right. They sent me to get a blood test and an ultrasound that afternoon. During the ultrasound they found something out of the ordinary and asked if they could take a biopsy. The next day, the phone call came. "Craig, can you come and see me at the surgery?” “Sure”, I replied. “Next week?” The doctor responded, “I will be free in 30 minutes. I'll see you then.”
The doctor sat me down and told me that I have CANCER! I don't remember much of the detail after that. I spent the next two hours, although it felt like only 15 minutes, sitting in the children’s play area. I didn't know where I was, or if this was all just a bad dream.
Living around 300km away from my family at the time, I then had the painful task of calling my mother and father to tell them I have CANCER! Within two hours they were at my door. Then within the next couple of days we were in Sydney, and I was having an operation that would last for 8 hours.
From that day until now, cancer has been a part of my life. It has changed me. It has hurt me emotionally and physically. Not to mention having a new cancer diagnosis two more times after that. In 2014 and 2016, I also fought cancer, and won!
Now it’s time for me to turn my life with cancer around for the good. I want to be able to help change people’s lives. I want to be able to empower the people about to embark on this tough journey. And I want to support their partners, parents, friends & family, who are going to have to watch the person who means everything to them, go through this tough time.
My dream is to have a foundation that helps people affected by cancer in any way - financially, physically, and emotionally. I want to empower those people to possess a strong spirit, and I want to encourage them to have a fighting spirit so that they can take on the disease. As we know, it can sometimes be our attitude towards the sickness that makes the difference. I want to be able to create a support network for all those touched by cancer.
My Story isn't finished. I was re-diagnosed in July 2017 with two lesions on my lungs. I am fighting again, but I’m not giving up on Chat 4 Cure, so please come on the ride with me as I inspire those on a similar journey.
In 2011, I started to notice that my right leg was slightly larger than my left. As a normal male, I thought that the imbalance would simply go away in time. I later became worried about it, and asked a few guys at work what I should do. They agreed that it probably wasn’t anything to worry about, but that it wouldn’t hurt just to see what the doctor had to say.
I went to the doctor, and they seemed to know right away that, for someone my age, something was not right. They sent me to get a blood test and an ultrasound that afternoon. During the ultrasound they found something out of the ordinary and asked if they could take a biopsy. The next day, the phone call came. "Craig, can you come and see me at the surgery?” “Sure”, I replied. “Next week?” The doctor responded, “I will be free in 30 minutes. I'll see you then.”
The doctor sat me down and told me that I have CANCER! I don't remember much of the detail after that. I spent the next two hours, although it felt like only 15 minutes, sitting in the children’s play area. I didn't know where I was, or if this was all just a bad dream.
Living around 300km away from my family at the time, I then had the painful task of calling my mother and father to tell them I have CANCER! Within two hours they were at my door. Then within the next couple of days we were in Sydney, and I was having an operation that would last for 8 hours.
From that day until now, cancer has been a part of my life. It has changed me. It has hurt me emotionally and physically. Not to mention having a new cancer diagnosis two more times after that. In 2014 and 2016, I also fought cancer, and won!
Now it’s time for me to turn my life with cancer around for the good. I want to be able to help change people’s lives. I want to be able to empower the people about to embark on this tough journey. And I want to support their partners, parents, friends & family, who are going to have to watch the person who means everything to them, go through this tough time.
My dream is to have a foundation that helps people affected by cancer in any way - financially, physically, and emotionally. I want to empower those people to possess a strong spirit, and I want to encourage them to have a fighting spirit so that they can take on the disease. As we know, it can sometimes be our attitude towards the sickness that makes the difference. I want to be able to create a support network for all those touched by cancer.
My Story isn't finished. I was re-diagnosed in July 2017 with two lesions on my lungs. I am fighting again, but I’m not giving up on Chat 4 Cure, so please come on the ride with me as I inspire those on a similar journey.