Patient Success Stories
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Alex Rivera
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“My whole life I dreamed about being a Professional BMX Bike Rider but on the night of May 8, 2008 all those dreams changed. At the age of 15 I was diagnosed with a rare Leukemia called Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Not only is CML different than all the other childhood leukemias, the treatment for CML is also very different. Iinstead of the usual radiation treatment sessions, which would have killed me, I have had to take my chemotherapy treatment in pill form every night since my diagnosis. Unlike other cancers where once the patient is in remission, treatment stops, for CML patients, even when we are in remission we must continue to take our chemo pills daily for the rest of our lives.
My art work has helped me to get my emotions out, like a writer who lets his thoughts flow on paper. When I look at my designs I see a story that I wrote; a story of healing. “Past Memories” is actually a photo of me doing a trick on my bike just weeks before my diagnosis. My dreams did not die that night on May 8th they just changed!!” |
We would like to take the opportunity to honor Alex Rivera, a courageous young man who is fighting a rare form of Leukemia, CML. After his diagnosis, Alex began using his middle name rather than his given name of Michael, as a way of commemorating that he is a different person now in many ways.
During the course of his treatment, he has become acutely aware of the difficult experiences that children even younger than he were encountering. He has vowed to do all he can to bring public awareness to life threatening childhood illnesses, and to volunteer to help at every opportunity. He has volunteered at many events, and as his mother, Angela told us, “Alex is my HERO!! If you ask him why he does this, he’ll tell you…’It’s for the Kids’…they are his heroes and his inspiration!”
Alex recently submitted a piece of art for an exhibit called “Art in Healing” at Tohono Chul Park. His artwork was among those selected to be included in the special exhibition, which took place from March 11th-May 16th, 2010. Alex’s piece reflects his life before cancer.
During the course of his treatment, he has become acutely aware of the difficult experiences that children even younger than he were encountering. He has vowed to do all he can to bring public awareness to life threatening childhood illnesses, and to volunteer to help at every opportunity. He has volunteered at many events, and as his mother, Angela told us, “Alex is my HERO!! If you ask him why he does this, he’ll tell you…’It’s for the Kids’…they are his heroes and his inspiration!”
Alex recently submitted a piece of art for an exhibit called “Art in Healing” at Tohono Chul Park. His artwork was among those selected to be included in the special exhibition, which took place from March 11th-May 16th, 2010. Alex’s piece reflects his life before cancer.