My name is Adam Rose. I am 17 years old. When I was four I was diagnosed with leukemia (ALL). Four months after I was diagnosed, I suffered a neurotoxic reaction to one of the chemotherapy drugs. After being paralyzed I had to stop cancer treatment and I grew very weak. My parents were scared that either the cancer would come back because I was not receiving any treatment or that I may pass away in my sleep because I was so weak. By a miracle I soon began getting some strength back to my upper body and the doctors soon began chemotherapy again. Unfortunately I was left paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair.
Despite being in a wheelchair and having been diagnosed with leukemia I constantly maintain a positive outlook on life. Nothing stands in my way. At age seven I started to play wheelchair basketball. At the age of twelve I was introduced to hand cycling and completed in my first race. After completing this race I was hooked. I have completed sixteen marathons. This past year I won the Detroit Free Press Marathon and the Air Force Marathon. My ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2016 Paralympic hand cycling team.
Throughout my life I have tried to be a positive role model for other people with cancer or who are paralyzed. I have been an honored hero for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society for 6 years. I have given many speeches for them and have helped fund raise for cancer research. A love of mine is helping out younger people who are paralyzed. I fell like I can relate to them better than anyone else can.
To receive this gift from Nicki would truly be an amazing thing for me. My next goal is to be able to go to college and eventually get a good job. This gift would help enable me to achieve these goals. I would use the gift to help pay for my college tuition. My father had to quit his job when I was diagnosed to help take care of me. Financially things have been tough for our family and this gift would help my entire family. To be able to go to college would allow me to be normal and to do what every other kid do.
Thanks for taking the time to read my letter.
“Life is not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens”