Luka

Hello. My name is Luka, and I am thrilled to have been asked to be London's 2024’s Honoured Hero. I don’t feel like a hero, but this is part of my story.

In the early days of September 2022, I was a 14 year old boy from Ilderton Ontario. I was excitedly preparing to be a grade 9 student at Medway High School, and I was enjoying every second of the summer holidays. My symptoms began early one morning as abdominal pain that was so intense we called the ambulance. The paramedics took me to Children’s Hospital in London Ontario where they admitted me for believed appendicitis. When I was not improving with treatment, losing weight, and in a lot of pain, testing continued. After a long list of tests, and lots of consultations, they determined that I had Burkitt Lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. It's a fast-growing form of blood cancer that was attacking my white blood cells. This cancer was aggressive, so my medical team had to be more aggressive.

At the time, those days were so long, and incredibly difficult. It seemed like my battle was never going to end – active chemo days, recovery days, lumbar punctures, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, NG feeds and numerous fevers. Hearing about my friends loving high school and playing hockey, and then spending Thanksgiving and Christmas in the hospital was really tough. My family and friends tried to make the good days good and allowed me to rest on those days that I could barely move. Now looking back, my time fighting Burkett’s went by so quick. It is now just an unforgettable part of my life story, but one that I have learned so many things from.

During my 5 months in the hospital, something amazing happened. Multiple organizations and people from my community came together to support me and my family. It was seriously overwhelming. One day, we saw a flyer in the hospital about LLSC (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada) and their upcoming Light The Night event. Just three weeks later, about 150 of my family and friends gathered outside my hospital room window with bright red lanterns. It was such a powerful moment, not just for me, but for all the other patients, families, and even the medical staff that got to witness this as well. The love and support we felt that night was something else.

Now, I'm in a much better place, and I want to pass on that feeling of support to others. I'm honored and proud to be able to do that. When life throws you a curveball, it's the people around you who make all the difference. They're the ones who light up the dark times and make everything seem a little bit brighter. So, even when things get tough, remember that there's always someone out there who's got your back. I have learned that even in the hardest moments, there's a glimmer of hope. So, to anyone out there who's going through a tough time (cancer patient, family member or friend) hang in there. Lean on the people who care about you, and don't be afraid to let them in. You're not alone, and there's a whole lot of love and support waiting for you. Keep shining your light and remember that you're stronger than you think.