In September 2021, I was packing to go home to South Carolina for the weekend, and I began to experience rapidly throbbing heartbeats. My best friend rushed me to Novant Healthcare in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they checked my blood pressure and placed me on the EKG machine and, shortly thereafter, wheeled me upstairs to a room. I was told that my heart rate was 148 beats per minute, and the doctor needed to get me in a room, hook me up to a machine, and figure out what was going on. During my 26-day stay in the hospital, the doctors checked every inch of my body except for my heart via various MRI, PET, and CAT scans, resulting in six procedures, including a bone marrow biopsy, which was the most painful procedure I’d ever experienced in my entire life. Each procedure resulted in no signs of cancer. Though no cancer was found in those areas, I dropped in weight from 216 lbs. to 130 lbs. I couldn’t eat anything but crushed ice. I couldn’t get food to stay down, and I became very weak, but I am a man of great faith, with an unwavering trust in GOD, so I knew that he was there and he would bring me through.
My doctor, Dr. Alan P. Zausner Skarbnik, advised me of another procedure, but this time it would be on my heart. An ultrasound showed a mass on the right ventricle of my heart, but because I lost so much weight, the only way that he could get to that mass would be to open my chest and break my rib cage. My sister conferred with my other siblings, and when asked what I wanted to do, I just said, “I need to pray and consult GOD!” They discharged me that weekend to go home, be in my own surroundings, talk to my GOD, and get back with them. The following Wednesday, I got a call from Dr. Skarbnik saying he'd consulted another surgeon, and they found another way to reach my heart. They can go in through my neck. It’s less invasive, and I’d be back on my feet in 24 hours. “THANK YOU, LORD!” I agreed, and the procedure was done, resulting in a finding of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
We agreed, and I went through six cycles of chemotherapy, where with each cycle I stayed in the hospital for five days, and each day, I received a new bag of chemo. During each cycle, I also had a procedure called a lumbar puncture done, where the doctor made a small incision in my back, collected fluid from my spine, and inserted a syringe filled with another type of chemo that would travel up my spine to my brain and protect my brain just in case the cancer tried to move to my brain. When I wasn’t having chemo, I went to the Cancer Center twice a week for a blood transfusion. This is where the nurses give me blood and blood products to replace the red and white blood cells and platelets that the chemo destroyed in my body.
In addition to all of this, I had countless doctor visits, exams, etc. that cost me my job, my apartment, and pretty much my life! I went through ALL of this with a smile on my face and joy in my heart! How did I make it through all of this? It was only by the grace of GOD that carried me through. I refused to be a victim and have a pity party! I kept a positive attitude, a positive outlook on life, and I did everything the doctors told me to do. I spoke life and healing over myself, my doctors, my family, and friends. My strong, unwavering trust in GOD, my church family, my family, and friends helped me make it through. Now, here I am, coming up on one year cancer-free!
There were close friends of mine who had cancer like me, and they did not make it, but I did! GOD has a plan and purpose for my life, and I told him that when he brings me through this, if he takes away my fear of speaking in front of people and puts me in a position, I would tell and show the people what he’s done for me and encourage them to stay positive and keep fighting. So, to someone reading this, every day will not be easy, but if you keep a positive attitude, keep your spirits up, do what the doctors say to do, look for the bright side in every situation, and rest, you can add fuel to your arsenal so that you can fight this deadly disease and hopefully join me in being a cancer survivor! I want to thank Blood Cancer United (formerly LLS) for being by my side when I so desperately needed them. I didn’t even know they existed until my caseworker, Susan Berry, introduced me to the organization and the services they provide. I am so very grateful for this opportunity just to be a light and provide some glimpse of hope to those who are fighting this battle. Just know you are not alone. Someone cares for you; they’re in your corner, and they’re praying for and with you. Now FIGHT!
Robert
non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
