The Story Behind the Mission
A timeline of resilience, medical battles, and the fight for life.
The Timeline
My Story The Radiant Journey
Life changed when I was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at 29 years old. Since then, I’ve been through countless treatments, surgeries, and moments of uncertainty.
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NEW
YORK POST
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SELF
Times Now
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SurvivorNet
LADbible
Newsbreak
Medical
Daily
Inside
Edition
Newsweek
NEW
YORK POST
Yahoo! Lifestyle
SELF
Times Now
News
SurvivorNet
LADbible
Newsbreak
Medical
Daily
Inside
Edition
Newsweek
JAN
2019
Initial Symptoms
I began experiencing unusual symptoms, leading to a series of doctor visits.
Common
Symptoms
- Persistent change in bowel habits
- Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
- Persistent abdominal discomfort
- Weakness or fatigue
STAGE 4
The Diagnosis
Diagnosed with rectal cancer after a biopsy revealed an adenocarcinoma with a KRAS mutation. The emotional toll was immense.
MAY
2019
JUL
2019
FOLFOX Chemotherapy Begins
Started an aggressive chemotherapy regimen. Side effects included fatigue, nausea, and neuropathy.
Gastrointestinal
Issues
Mouth
Sores
Hair
Loss
Bleeding
Radiation Therapy
Underwent daily radiation sessions to target the primary tumor in my pelvis.
Cedars-Sinai uses this advanced machine for highly precise treatments (SBRT/IMRT), minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
NOV
2019
MAR
2020
Surgery & Ileostomy
Low Anterior Resection to remove the tumor. Adjusting to life with a temporary stoma was difficult.
Ileostomy Reversal
Successfully had the ileostomy reversed. A big step toward normalcy.
Ileostomy [il·e·os·to·my]: a surgical operation in which a piece of the ileum is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall.
MAY
2020
FEB
2021
RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION
Liver Surgery
Underwent surgery to remove multiple liver lesions from metastatic disease. The recovery process was slow and painful, but each day brought progress.
Lung Nodule Ablations
First of many procedures for recurrent lung nodules detected during routine scans.
Performed under general anesthesia while the doctor guided the probe into my lung via live CT image.
MAY
2021
JUN
2021
Collapsed Lung
Suffered a pneumothorax following ablation. Terrifying, but fixed with a chest tube.
What is a pneumothorax?
Air leaks into the space between lung and chest wall, pushing on the lung and making it collapse.
Blood Clot Detected
A clot was found in the same artery as my chemo port, requiring immediate anticoagulation.
Why treat clots?
Thrombosis can obstruct blood flow. If a clot breaks free, it can block heart or lungs, potentially shutting down organs.
SEP
2021
FEB
2022
Dialysis Begins
Due to kidney complications, I began dialysis. Staying motivated through this added challenge was extremely difficult.
NED
No Evidence of Disease
After several clear scans, I reached the moment I had long hoped for. A turning point from active treatment to survivorship.
MAR
2023
JUL
2024
Fatherhood
Welcomed my daughter, Cameryn, into the world—a bright light after years of darkness.
Local Recurrence
A recent PET/MRI scan revealed a recurrence. Doctors proposed radical surgery. I am currently seeking second and third opinions from traditional and holistic practices.
Have advice or guidance?
OCT
2025
The Fight Continues
Today, I'm focused on building a meaningful life for myself and my daughter, Cameryn. Through Radiant14, I'm sharing my story, raising awareness about young-onset colorectal cancer, and creating a community of hope, strength, and resilience. Life threw its hardest punches, but I'm still standing—ready to inspire, grow, and give back.