Patricia's Story

K., a teenage boy, had always been healthy. He led an active lifestyle, ate well, exercised with his dad, swam, and snowboarded. He had a perfect school attendance record, as he never got sick.

One day, K. noticed a small lump near his collarbone. The next day, he visited a doctor. At first, there was no major concern, but he was referred for an ultrasound. That’s when things took a serious turn.

He was immediately admitted to the hospital. After a week of tests, doctors were almost certain it was lymphoma. A biopsy was taken, and at the same time, a central line was placed, and an PET scan was performed. The results revealed more tumors, with the largest one in the mediastinum.

Shortly after his 14th birthday, the doctor confirmed the diagnosis: Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stage 2B. The treatment plan included four cycles of chemotherapy. K. handled the treatment exceptionally well, experiencing minimal side effects—only fatigue during the infusion days.

After two cycles, a PET scan was repeated. It was one of the happiest moments for K. and our family—the treatment was working, and the cancer was gone.

Overjoyed, K. completed the remaining two cycles. A follow-up MRI confirmed the incredible news: K. was cancer-free.

Now, he is waiting for the removal of his central line so he can return to his favorite activities, like swimming and snowboarding.

This trip to Bens retreat is a time of celebration—K. can finally breathe, close this chapter, and start living again. Thank you for letting us stay this weekend.