Last Friday, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer—Osteosarcoma of the mandible, which occurs in just 0.06% of cases.
Five months ago, I noticed a swollen area on the outside of my gum. Unsure of what it was, I went to my dentist, who then referred me to a periodontist. For months, I was shuffled between providers, but no one could pinpoint the issue. Finally, I found an oral surgeon in Atlanta who was committed to finding a diagnosis. After undergoing countless procedures, we were still no closer to an answer. This led my oral surgeon to recommend a tissue biopsy. My wife and I attended that appointment together, and before the procedure, we reviewed the CT scans. It was clear that the bone on the right side of my jaw was significantly thicker than the left. My surgeon suggested it was likely due to teeth grinding or favoring one side while eating. After five months of pain, I disagreed and pushed for a bone biopsy as well. Although the surgeon initially deemed it unnecessary, I insisted, and he agreed to “see how it looks” during the procedure. I’ll never forget when he held up the petri dish and said, “I got that bone you asked for…” Two weeks later, that piece of bone came back positive for Osteosarcoma. The takeaway?
ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF!
Moving forward, I’ll begin my first round of inpatient chemotherapy at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University on September 9th, followed by surgery to remove and reconstruct part of my jaw.
Thanks to Dan Burks & Brittany Howard I’ll be meeting with the Head & Neck team at Mayo Clinic in Arizona on 9/4. Their team is a Center of Excellence for treating my rare form of cancer. Dan, a longtime friend, happened to be sitting with Brittany when I called to share my diagnosis. Amazingly, Brittany is part of the team that specializes in exactly the type of cancer I have, which again makes up just 0.06% of cases. She proceeded to stay on the phone with me and explain every detail of my diagnosis to help me understand exactly what battle I have ahead of me. This single conversation gave me so much hope and the fact that she was there when I called Dan is God showing up when I needed him most.
Thanks to Kelly Anne O'Neill’s recommendation, I will also be working with Kristin Oja, DNP, FNP-C, IFMCP & STAT Wellness in Atlanta to optimize my health throughout this journey. Turns out, Kristin is also my brother in law’s nextdoor neighbor…Another great example of God placing specific people in my life to help me receive the care I need.
I’m deeply thankful for the support from family, friends, and colleagues—your kindness means everything to me. As I face this challenge, I ask for your continued prayers, trusting that, no matter the outcome, God will work through this and bring about something good.
Time to get to work!💪
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