[ad_1]
It was supposed to be a year to remember for the rest of his life.
And it will be, but not for the reasons Waikato teenager Tommy O’Brien intended when he began his senior year at Cambridge High School as its 2020 principal.
The 18-year-old soccer fan was diagnosed with testicular cancer just as the country passed Covid-19 alert levels in March.
She had had a life-changing student exchange experience in Europe and returned to New Zealand to discover that she had a life-threatening illness.
Kelly Hodel / Stuff
Tommy O’Brien is in the middle of three rounds of chemotherapy to kill cancer.
“I was in the shower one afternoon and I thought, wait, this is not right. I told my dad that we had a talk about it and went to see a GP the next day. “
An ultrasound followed and in eight days he underwent surgery to remove a tumor, an operation that he managed to continue on the eve of the level 4 block.
The decision to have the problem reviewed quickly probably saved your life.
“All the guys, please check for lumps there, and if you find anything irregular, go see your local GP,” Tommy said.
Kelly Hodel / Stuff
Tommy with his family at their Cambridge home, including his sister Anneliese, 16; brother Luke, 14; Mom Renie and Dad Tony.
“It is most likely just a visit that could save his life.”
Waikato Hospital medical oncologist Alvin Tan said testicular cancer is most common in men in their 20s and 30s, but patients can present in their teens or 50s.
“In young men, ages 15 to 19, it is the second most common type of cancer, leukemia is the most common.”
There was an excellent cure rate, especially if it was treated early and if the cancer had not spread to other organs.
Kelly Hodel / Stuff
Tommy with the family dog Hazel outside his house. He hopes his story will encourage other young people to take better care of their health.
Careful follow-up found that the cancer in Tommy’s body had begun to move, triggering the current chemotherapy treatment.
But the prognosis was positive and so was Tommy’s attitude toward future challenges.
He used “black humor” with his friends and family to deal with the initial shock of the diagnosis earlier this year.
“It gave everyone something to laugh about in a difficult time, while personally giving me the space to deal with and process the emotional impact on my own time.”
Kelly Hodel / Stuff
Tommy says his battle with cancer has been tough for his younger siblings, Anneliese and Luke, who are also students at Cambridge High School.
He spent hours reading about research on testicular cancer. He understood that chemotherapy could reduce fertility and his chances of becoming a father one day.
“But because of this, I have done a sperm bank, so I will be able to have children that way, regardless of what happens to my fertility.”
Tommy had big plans for 2020 based on his high school leadership role and his team of executive students.
“The main thing I wanted to be as a principal was to be part of an amazing team and the executive student has really been that for me.
Kelly Hodel / Stuff
He has spent a lot of time on the couch in recovery mode after chemotherapy at Waikato Hospital.
“Second, I really wanted to use this last school year to grow as a person … I didn’t exactly imagine that a tumor would be what would grow.”
The student executives figured the best way they could support Tommy was to host a special Shave For A Cure event on September 23 at the high school with proceeds for cancer research.
“I think it is something absolutely wonderful what the executive student has put together.
“The initiative not only gives me some inspiration for my journey, but more importantly, it offers hope in the future for others facing much more difficult battles.”
SUPPLIED
Tommy, before cancer and Covid-19. He was looking forward to an exciting year as principal at Cambridge High School in 2020.
He said that due to science and research, testicular cancer was often curable.
“With our school supporting Shave For A Cure, we are raising funds for vital scientific research to hopefully make this the case for other, more difficult cancers.
“I am very proud of all the executive students who have made this happen.”
Tommy looked forward to attending the Shave For A Cure event.
He would depend on his chemotherapy treatments, which had clearly drained his energy when they visited him at his home in Cambridge.
SUPPLIED
Tommy had been on a student exchange in Switzerland and other parts of Europe earlier in the year, putting his French skills to use. It was a journey that opened up the world, he says.
He was able to gather enough strength for an interview and photos with his family in support.
There were younger siblings, Sister Anneliese, 16, and Brother Luke, 14. Mom Renie watched nervously getting her son ready to talk, and Dad Tony arrived a little later for a family photo.
Living with the threat of cancer will be a part of life, but Tommy knows it, and is moving forward with his plans to study at the University of Otago or Auckland next year.
“I started this year on a student exchange in Switzerland that showed me what else there was in the world.
SUPPLIED
Tommy is the captain of the Cambridge High School 1st XI football team, which is heading towards an undefeated season. Tommy (back row, fourth from right) managed to play about half the season before cancer stopped him.
“Then a month later, this [cancer] It happened and it has shown me another aspect of life.
“By having those two consecutive experiences, they both completely changed the way I see the world and made me realize how precious life is.”
Former All Black Aaron Cruden’s recovery from testicular cancer 10 years ago is well documented.
The 31-year-old played rugby for the Chiefs this year and made a special 2-minute video message for Tommy to help him with the teenager’s recovery.
Lawrence Gullery / Stuff
Cambridge High School Principal Hunter Ludlam and Assistant Principal William Crofskey have been helping organize the Shave For A Cure event, to support Tommy and raise funds for cancer research.
Tommy appreciated the video and his own advice to others facing similar challenges is to take life one day at a time.
“Whether you can do it through humor or surrounding yourself with a good group of peers for support, I believe that appreciating each day as it comes is the best way to approach a cancer diagnosis.”
Cambridge High School Principal Hunter Ludlam and Assistant Principal William Crofskey have been working behind the scenes to organize the Shave For A Cure event.
They both said there had been a great response from the community. The initial goal was $ 3000 when they launched the event online, but it had recently hit $ 13,000, with the new goal now at $ 15,000.
“We have three or four hairdressers who are coming to school on September 23, at lunchtime, to shave,” said William.
“We hope to gather about 50 people, we have 25 at the moment. Some of the guys from 1st XV said they would shave and we hope the whole team will too. “
Hunter Ludlam said that Tommy’s positive attitude had inspired the school.
“He had always wanted to be the director and a role model for others. He didn’t get that chance this year, but he’s been involved where he can.
“He spoke at the last assembly to let everyone know how he is doing, encouraging everyone to overcome their challenges in life.
“So he’s been doing everything he can for us, even from outside of school.”
Cambridge High School Assistant Principal John McDonnell said the school wanted to see its principal return to end the year as he started it.
“Tommy started the year in a positive way. He was excited, he was challenged. We would like to see him possibly head to school at the end of the year.
“We hope he’s in a position to show the school community that he’s faced challenges, but here he is, he’s still excited about the future.”
