Here is Donovan’s story:
My name is Donovan and I love to skateboard, I skate everyday all year round in rain or shine. In December 2017 at a pretty routine stop I felt a really sharp pain above my right knee, it hurt so much I was limping around for the rest of the day. I assumed it to be a sprain whereas my super attractive, funny, smart girlfriend suggested I get it checked out by a doctor because I could have a hairline bone fracture or something. I went to the doctor where they agreed that it looked like a sprain and the xrays did not show any fractures. They told me to elevate it, stay off it, ice it if I’d like, I thought I was good.
Months later the pain in my knee was intermittent so I wasn’t sure if I was healing or not, it wasn’t until I noticed the swelling of my right thigh that I knew something was wrong. I tried to see an orthopedist but I wouldn’t be seen immediately, I had to check myself into the emergency room.
I was there all day taking tests and seeing different doctors. I was told everything from there’s fluid in my knee to you’re growing extra bone mass. All the doctors agreed on one thing, I should get an MRI. Of course with my luck the day before my MRI the machine needed servicing and I wasn’t able to be seen for another week.When the results came back I was told that there is a growth in my right thigh, a mass of tissue. I was given a list of doctors to call and was advised to meet with the first person who could see me, I called all of the doctors, only one was available. When the Doctor saw me and the MRI he knew immediately that it was a tumor, we did a biopsy on the spot.
A week later I was diagnosed with Myxoid Liposarcoma a very rare cancer, (1 in a million) even rarer for someone under 50 years old, so rare what causes it is still unknown. This cancerous tumor is under and in my thigh muscles. I took a PET scan and thank god it hasn’t spread anywhere else.
I have been unable to sleep because of the overwhelming pain. I was prescribed opioids but it only gives me about 2 hours of pain relief. I am currently at a place where there is no longer any mobility in my right leg, I have been getting around with crutches. I have been diagnosed with insomnia because of the lack of sleep I’m getting because of the pain, I literally have hallucinations.My upcoming surgery consists of cutting out the tumor along with a larger portion of good muscle tissue, a month following I will be doing radiation treatments everyday for 2 months.
I really just want to get back up on my board both figuratively and literally.
Click here to support Let’s Help Donovan Beat Cancer organized by Megan Pickrell
queerlybeloveds 