The month of September all of the fun began. I started by taking a quick flight up to Utah from Colorado were I was working back and forth from between the two states. I was diagnosed in Colorado by a group of Doctors at Swedish Hospital and also at the Colorado Oncology - Hematology Clinic. I spent a week there were they did many test for infections and disease and when the last test came back as Cancer I was shocked. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia I learned was a form of cancer in the blood. It is found in the bone marrow where blood is made and attacks the white an red bloods cells in the body. It takes over your immune system and spread into the spine and brain it not treated quickly. At this point I then decided that it would be a good idea to get treatment in Utah were all of my family lives. I took the next flight home and was emitted the next day into to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.I have been here for the past month and have received two rounds of Chemotherapy and many other treatment. I have received care from some of the best Doctors and Nurses I have ever met. The Huntsman Cancer Institute is really a wonderful place and is treating many types of Cancers and performing a lot of research for them. I see a lot of different patients each day as I wander the halls. I also met a young man named Nick who invited me to his room to hang out and play some video games. I found out after speaking with him that he has a very rare form of cancer called Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. It was found under his right eye as a cancerous tumor. He has also undergone many treatments of Chemotherapy. It was nice to met someone going through the similar conditions and seeing his positive attitude.
After being here for almost 6 weeks now a positive attitude is sometimes hard to keep but, when you are surrounded by family, friends, great nurses and doctors it help you get those little boosts you need to make through each day with a good attitude. I can't be more grateful for the support and love I have received by all of these people and the strength that I have received from God at this time. I'm also happy to say that my older Sister Amanda is a match for a bone marrow transplant. That has been some great news to hear and comforting as well. I will keep an update of events and new blogs as the fight goes on. I'm going to keep on keeping on and will be able to go home in a week or so! Harrison
