"You're Not Alone": Inspiring story from soldier diagnosed while on Afghanistan deployment

I figured since I'm still early into my illness, that I share my story to whoever will listen.

 I have a huge support base back home with friends and family, and an even bigger one with my wife and 2 year old son. My name is S***, I'm 22 years old, and I was on my second deployment with the Army in Afghanistan when I began to experience the symptoms of the disease. I deployed this past January and I was only 2 months into the deployment when I was flown to several other FOBs all over East Patika until they flew me to Germany where I was finally diagnosed.

 Honestly, I didn't know how to soak it all in, as I'm sure those of you who have received their version of the news have experienced it in this same manner; it completely sinks to the back of your mind as if they didn't tell you anything dire at all. I denied the fact that me being in the best shape of my life, had aspirations for my military career upon return from my deployment, had all been warped by this cancer. And then, that's when I began to realize, my life had been completely changed. That's when I lost it. I didn't plan for something like this and I felt so forsaken. Why me, you know? So many other people who do harm in this world, and me, a husband, father, soldier, I was the one was selected by nature to become apart of this disease.

 When I arrived stateside, I barely remember being alive. I was in ICU nd apparently I was extremely aggressive to everyone (which I have absolutely no recollection of and I'm not an aggressive guy) and was very hostile. They dove into my first chemo cycle when they finally staged it, which my body reacted well to it. No nausea or vomiting, which I didn't know is as common as it is, because everyone was surprised I didn't experience this. Then, the hospital stay which lasted for a month. It was a prison for my mind and I felt like I was again succumbing to the reality of the disease. I couldn't detach myself from it.


 But my wife, she's the one who has stuck with me through this and continues to do so. She helps me shoulder the weight of all this and I'll be frank, if I didn't have her, I would have a lot less heart in dealing with this. But now, after my second round of chemo and now an outpatient, I have hope. And one thing I forgot to mention, is that I've never been a religious person. I never had regards for there being a God, but before I deployed, me and my wife were trying for a second child for 10 months. We had almost given up hope because it was so down to the wire before me leaving. But then, a pregnancy test, a blood test, and lo and behold, we were pregnant, all before my body began to turn. And as you know, chemo has its lifelong effects, including infertility. Call it divine intervention, I don't know, but if the cancer had shown up any earlier, we never would know the joy of having a daughter due in August.

 I'm curious to see how life pans out by the end of the year, but also very hopeful. If there's anyone, who like me, has recently become diagnosed, I hope my story has given you hope. You're not alone. It took me until now to realize that. As cliche as it sounds, there's always light at the end of the tunnel. Don't allow the weight of this to alter you, because each day that passes, is another day you've been rid of this illness. You can get through this, as we all are.

 Thank you. S***.

 From NHL discussion group. Name withheld. S*** diagnosed with Sporadic Burkitt's Lymphoma (non-Hodgkin's) with Tumor Lysis Syndrome.