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In 2005 He Was Told He Had 1 Year To Live. 18 Years Later He's Thriving

May 12, 2023

A man who was told he had one year to live after being diagnosed with cancer at age 12 has just celebrated his 30th birthday.

u/SilentWalrus92 on Reddit

The man, who is choosing to remain anonymous, shared his remarkable story on a Reddit forum.

The doctors at the time were so sure of his diagnosis that they suggested his family reach out to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The nonprofit organization granted his "last" wish, which was a trip to Hawaii.

u/SilentWalrus92 on Reddit

He went on to explain more about his diagnosis.

"At the time, back in 2005, doctors knew very little about the specific type of tumor I had. I was told when I was diagnosed that only 3 other people globally had even ever been diagnosed with a pilomyxoid astrocytoma. All of them only lived about a year or 2 after diagnosis. Doctors had no idea why my surgery and treatment was so successful (I only did radiation therapy, never had to do chemo, because the radiation worked).

The hospital sent my tumor off to be studied and they continued giving me regular MRI scans every year up until just now. I finished my final MRI checkup this year."

Following the treatment for his brain tumor he was left with short term memory loss.

"All my long term memory is fine. I can tell you anything about my past, but may not remember your name after meeting you or what I had for breakfast or why I called you," he said. To help with his short term memory loss, he carried around a small notebook to write things down he knows he will need to remember later.

u/SilentWalrus92 on Reddit

Since his diagnosis in 2005, he has gone on to get married, have children (ages 9 months and 2 years) and even get a job working at the hospital that saved his life - Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, TN.

For most of his younger years he didn't think too much about the future and tried to enjoy every day as if it may be his last. He didn't care about eating healthy or exercising knowing he might not live to see tomorrow.

But now, after getting married and having kids, his mindset has changed.

"Now, I want to live as long as possible to see them grow old. I want to eat healthy and exercise so I can play with them throughout their whole childhood. I want to see what sort of people they become."