Joshua Tomassi
Despite the long road ahead, Joshua continues to stay motivated knowing he will beat cancer soon.
On April 3rd, 2010, at the age of 15, as a high school freshman in Fulton, I was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. My somewhat “normal” teenage life with school and athletics changed forever. I began one of the protocol treatments with a series of chemotherapies for this childhood cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
“After months in the hospital and 2 weeks in ICU where I almost did not survive, I was transported back by ambulance to Golisano to begin my intense physical and occupational therapy.”
In mid-July, I relapsed and lost my vision in both eyes. I spent two weeks at Golisano adjusting and processing what was occurring in my life. In September, I traveled to Boston Children’s Hospital where I underwent a bone marrow transplant and my older brother was my donor. After months in the hospital and 2 weeks in ICU where I almost did not survive, I was transported back by ambulance to Golisano to begin my intense physical and occupational therapy. With the support of my doctors and therapists at Golisano I achieved my goal and made it home for Christmas after 100 days in the hospital. My doctors and support team at Golisano are truly my lifeline and it is a blessing to have them just 40 minutes from my front door.
Currently, I am at home recovering and I am halfway through my year in isolation. I still see my team at Golisano on a weekly basis at clinic, while also preparing for AP exams and regents. I am working hard to walk again, learn Braille, and learn daily living skills now that I am visually impaired for life. Cancer may be tough but I am tougher!
They call me “ TimPossible ”, and that is how I live my life.
On April 3rd, 2010, at the age of 15, I was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. My “normal” teenage life with school and athletics changed forever. My treatment path included chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and at one point a 100-day stretch in the hospital.
It was profoundly difficult, and in the process, I lost my sight and nearly my life. Despite this, I am now living a full life. I have since summited Mt. Kilimanjaro and have ridden across the US on a tandem bicycle. I’m busy as a public speaker and am running for my local school board. They call me “TimPossible”, and that is how I live my life.
Despite the long road ahead, Joshua continues to stay motivated knowing he will beat cancer soon.
To say that the last few months have been a roller coaster would be a huge understatement.
Archie was 7 months old when he was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor, a type of kidney cancer. He endured a nearly 12-hour surgery…
She was a full, vibrant child, who was so much more than her cancer which she never let it bring her down.
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