David began having random chest pain and occasional vomiting with no other symptoms. He did have weight loss but he also started growing his taller so we thought it was that. We went in and were blown off by the doctor telling us ” teenagers don’t have heart conditions.”
After pressing the doctor, he ran an EKG and Echo, it was then we learned of a huge mediastinal tumor. We went through a whirlwind of a week with open heart surgery, port placement surgery and then starting chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He went through 9 rounds of every 3rd week hospital admitted chemo. We also did a month of daily radiation. He was clear for about a year and then had surgery to remove 2 small tumors on his lung. He started an immunotherapy for a year which turned his hair white. During this he got his Make a Wish trip and struggled with Depression, stress and guilt during this year. His heart showed changes that made him have to stop the medication.
After only a month, he passed out at work and was taken to the ER. The X-ray showed massive tumor growth in a short time. We began chemo again but he became ill with a virus and extremely weak. He was unable to continue treatment and was put on hospice, and shortly thereafter, succumbed to his Synovial Sarcoma. The turmoil the diagnosis, treatment periods, emotional, financial and overall life for our entire family was enormous and devastating.
We were blessed to have David in our lives and blessed to find the tumor and keep him a few more years. We were also blessed by family and friends, strangers and acquaintances who showered us with love and support. We would give anything to have him back and for no one to ever go through this heartbreak. He was an amazing soul, so strong and courageous, and missed by many. His legacy of kindness will live on through us as we cherish the time we had, try to enjoy what’s left and look forward to seeing him again someday.
