Wendell was kept at CHOP for a week of testing. He
was sent home and fell back to the point where he couldn’t walk. His test of
the bone marrow, PET scan and x-ray showed his bones were black and not white.
He knew he was sick but when he got the results, he was worried and scared,
“Are you sure?” he asked Dr. Babak, his doctor. “I was in denial at first but I
decided to start treatment right away.”He had his first round of chemo
treatment. He would stay at CHOP every two weeks from Wednesday to Monday for treatments.
He would catch a virus after each chemo treatment because his immune system was
low. “After each chemo treatment, I saw little dots with the viruses. On the
third chemo cycle in late November, I felt weak. My blood pressure dropped. My
weight was down to 135. I went back to CHOP. I saw Dr. Babak. He said if I
hadn’t comeback, two hours later, I would have been dead. I just remember they
kept shooting stuff into me. I was at CHOP for 10 days getting fluid and
antibiotics.”
While receiving chemo treatment, Wendell was on
homebound instruction from school.
He has been back to school since April to
finish out his 12th grade year and graduate. After having 7 rounds
of chemo treatment, he is now cancer free. His immune system is still building
up. I met Wendell before his illness. He had easygoing persona. He was friendly
and polite. He seems too good to be true but you knew he was brought up well. I
had not seen him for the school year. I thought he transferred out. I soon
discovered what was going on by way of a Facebook post from his mother, Ursula
Brown, and contacted her. We kept in touch about Wendell’s progress. When I
first saw him in April, he looked fragile. I knew he had been through a tough
year. He walked at a slow pace. His head was covered with a skull cap. His
finger nails were black from the chemo treatments. He was still easygoing with
a great personality. It took a few weeks but now the hat was gone and his hair
is growing back. He is walking at a normal pace. The color of his nails is gradually
coming back. He had fun at the prom and class day. He is looking forward to
graduating from Chester High School. Wendell is thinking about a few options
for his future. He wants to go to the Delaware County Community College (DCCC)
for Pharmacy Technician. He learned carpentry at DCTS and is interested in
making cabinets. He wants to sell life insurance because his brother sells life
insurance. He wants to go back to boxing. He wants to do some traveling. He
wants to live by the beach. He wants to go sky diving. “Now I that am cancer
free,” Wendell said, “I want to go back to living normally.” Wendell
wanted to share his story to family, friends, and the community in hopes of
being an inspiration.
*Wendell's story is also in the Daily Times today and on delcotimes.com HERE
*Wendell's story is also in the Daily Times today and on delcotimes.com HERE
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