Danny Getting Chemo
Symptoms:
It was Saturday afternoon. I had a nice headache from the night before-Doc’s ranch was always a good time. I could hear my best friend laughing from across the house. I rolled out of bed; Lord, my feet hurt. I didn’t drink that much last night, but I was feeling it. As I made my way into the living room, the look on Doc’s face changed instantly. Doc was staring at my feet. Yeah, whatever, my feet sometimes swell after I drink. Doc wasn’t convinced. After much debate, I promised him that I would go get a blood test when we got back to San Antonio. (If time allowed, I thought to myself.) Doc was convinced that something was wrong. Maybe it was just the start of Diabetes…
Getting tested for Diabetes
It was Tuesday afternoon. I was feeling fine. I made the executive decision to forgo any blood tests and head straight home after work. Literally two minutes after I got inside my house, the doorbell rang: It was Doc. A few minutes later, my mom was furiously knocking on my front door.
Doc had told my mom. By 7:30 am that next morning my blood had been drawn.
The Phone Call
It was Friday. Two days before my 27th birthday I got the phone call that would change my life.
Nurse: Are you Daniel?
Danny: That is *explicit adjective* cancer. Are you sure that you have the right person?
Danny: It depends. Who is this?
Nurse: We just got your results back.
Danny: Anything show up?
Nurse: Unfortunately, Daniel, we need you to get to the hospital ASAP.
Danny: Why?
Nurse: I can’t divulge that information over the phone.
Danny: Well, I’m not gonna go in until you tell me what’s going on.
Nurse: Daniel, I cannot divulge that information over the phone.
Danny: I – am – not – going – anywhere – until – you – tell – me – what – is – going – on.
Nurse: Your test results indicate that there is a slight possibility that you have leukemia.
At that point, I didn’t hesitate to tell her that she was full of it. I thought that they had the wrong guy. There was no way that I had cancer. I was just about to turn 27 years old…26 year olds don’t get cancer.
Danny and I have been lifelong friends. Looking back on things now, I feel glad that I pressured him into going to the doctor. I was just worried about him but I really didn’t think anything was going to be seriously wrong. Danny has gone through a lot in these past years. It’s hard to think that it’s been so long now and I’m just glad that he’s here with us still. Because I’ve known Danny so long, I know that he’s a giving person and I’m happy to see him show that side of himself to others and to open up his life to help others who are going through the same thing. I just wanted to thank Danny because during all his trying times, he always been there for me as a friend.
I hope we have many more birthdays to share together. Love you bro.
-David .