My name is Jesse Catron, I am 18 years old. On October 17th 2008 I was diagnosed with AML Leukemia at age 16. That day was the hardest day for my family and I. The doctors told us I only had 45 days to live without treatment.
Having cancer has changed my life in so many ways. Because of the chemo, I was unable to go to a public highschool or have the normal teenage life. I wasn’t able to go out to a movie or outing with my friends because my immune system was so low.
I was bed ridden for nearly 10 months, and lost most of my muscle and strength. I was not able to eat or drink for most of the time.
My family started a blog, and soon I had people all over the world praying for me. The blog allowed my family to communicate my condition everyday. There where many times, by the grace of God, I survived each day. Today I have been out of the hospital and in remission for 1 year. During my darkest moments I learned that everything happens for a reason, and I will be able to give my testimony of how good God is. I believe I can encourage other children and teens that are going through what I did.
My strength is returning, and I am starting to look for a part-time job. I would use a gift from the Nicki Leach Foundation to put towards a car to get to and from work. My parents have put there life on hold to take care of me, and now I would like to become independant and do some things for myself, like drive a car.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I found so much inspiration from reading all the letters from your past recipients.
God Bless You,
Jesse Catron