He is My Hero

On May 17, 2021, my son Kevyn was admitted to the hospital with a migraine. He had numerous tests, and a lesion was found on his brain. On May 19, his birthday, he had surgery to remove it as opposed to a simple biopsy. I, as his father, was not going to leave his side. So I stayed at the hospital the entire time, and no one was going to pull me away.

On May 24, the results came back, and he was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma. The surgeon was able to remove 98% of the tumor. Imagine the feeling of helplessness, anger, and not knowing what the future would hold for your son. Not to mention as a father feeling you cannot protect him. Kevyn promised me he was going to beat the monster!

Fast forward to August of the same year. Kevyn was released to go back to work. Kevyn jumped in, working 40 to 50 hours loading trucks for Fed-Ex. A year later, he met Rachel, his now fiancé. Has his own home, a dog, and a new baby girl Avalyn who is precious.

As a father, I spent many a night worrying, sometimes crying, and many times fighting beside him. When Kevyn went for radiation, I never missed taking him but once or twice due to work. We became much closer. Kevyn was always the optimist and promised me he would be OK. He is a protector and never the victim. He, though going through a terrible disease, was my rock. He would assure me he would be OK, and over 2 years later, he still is cancer-free. As his father, many times I felt helpless and prayed the Lord would take me before him. But he had and has a bigger journey for Kevyn.

I cannot be prouder of the man and father he has become, and he continues to surprise me. His entire family is so blessed to be in his life. He is MY HERO and helped all of us through such an uncertain time, though he was the one sick. As a father and friend, I sometimes look back at those days and get a lump in my throat, thinking what could have been. Even though he is doing so well, I am always nervous with anticipation each time the MRI results come back, ready to take whatever path given with him again. With him by my side, there is nothing we can’t conquer or fix!

Kevyn has driven me to be a better man and an advocate. He has given me a passion for helping those less fortunate, and we now have a semi-annual fundraiser, “Brews for Brains Hanover,” raising funds for brain tumor research through the National Brain Tumor Society. The event is a celebration of his journey and toughness.

I love you, son, and I am proud to be your DAD!

TAGGED WITH: brain cancer, glioblastoma

Opinions expressed within this story belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of the National Brain Tumor Society.