inMotion Magazine

March | April 2018 10 My son Damon was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in January 2014, at the age of 9, after his mother gave him a hug and felt an unusual lump on his left arm. Osteosarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer. In Damon’s case, he had an enormous tumor that destroyed most of his left humerus. Despite the damage from the tumor, Damon underwent limb-salvage surgery in April 2014 (a complex operation that removes as much cancerous tissue as possible without performing amputation), followed by 10 months of highly intensive chemotherapy. In January 2015, exactly one year after his diagnosis, Damon was declared NED: No Evidence of Disease! Unfortunately, what appeared to be a victory in Damon’s fight against cancer was little more than a respite between rounds. In November 2015, routine scans showed the cancer had returned to his arm. This time, the only option was amputation. Yet Damon refused to give up the fight. His mother and I cried – Damon did not. He said he understood and told the doctor, “I don’t mind! I would rather hug my family with one arm than to die with two.” After surgery and more chemotherapy, Damon was again declared NED in September 2016. Damon is now 13 years old. This past year began with the growth of three new nodules in his lungs. He underwent three lung surgeries Who is your amputee hero, and why? Whether they’re an amputee or not, the special person who inspires you to live well with limb loss can be a relative, a friend or someone you’ve never met. We invite you to send us an article (250 to 350 words) for consideration to be included in  inMotion. Email articles to: editor@amputee-coalition.org I Can Do This ALL DAY! amputee hero by Brian A. Billeck