At 22, I had just returned to the United States after leaving the Marine Corps, ready to start a new chapter. Within a few months, I was diagnosed with a rare stage 4 sarcoma called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor. My doctors told me that without treatment, I might only have a few months to live.
I’ve gone through multiple rounds of IV and oral chemotherapy, participated in a clinical trial, and am now continuing another type of IV chemotherapy. The past few years have been full of appointments and travel for treatment, but I try to stay grounded and grateful for each day I have.
The hardest part has been watching life and opportunities pass me by. I was in school, job hunting, and planning for the future — all of that came to a stop when I got sick. But I’m still finding ways to stay hopeful and to enjoy the moments that matter.
Andrew’s LifeList:
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Andrew is still deciding how he would like to use his LifeList.