My brother has been such a trooper. His first surgery was a total thyroidectomy and removal of seven cancerous lymph nodes. Today, after the spread of more cancer, a tumor from his chest and several more cancerous lymph nodes were removed.

He was diagnosed a day after his 17th birthday, and turned 18 three weeks ago. He is in stage four.

I have cried countless times watching my brother go through this. He has been nothing but the strength our family needed during this time, and HE is the one directly affected. Last year, he had to do home/hospital instruction for a bit and may have to do it this year if chemo comes into the picture. He’s missed tons of school for appointments and procedures, including the two surgeries and radiation treatment (which did not work as planned). He had to quit playing tennis and give up on his goal of going to state this year as a senior. He’s a four-year varsity player, three-year captain, and was easily one of the team’s best players. He is a smart, talented, and amazing kid with SO much in his future, and almost everything had to be put on hold for his health. He’s afraid he may not even be able to walk at his high school graduation this upcoming June.

My brother is one of the strongest people in my life and I am feeling so bittersweet that he has to suffer through this but is able to carry on with strength, bravery, and complete acceptance of his condition. I love my brother to pieces and I am so grateful that our family loves and supports him just as much as I do. ❤️

******10/22 UPDATE******

Thank you guys SO much for all of the responses! I didn’t ask for any prayer requests because I know not everyone is religiously affiliated, but my family and I are believers. My family and I truly appreciate it! ❤️

We have been praying long and hard and are hoping that this will be the last time my brother will have to go through surgery. Hopefully he won’t have to do chemo, but we will see.

God has given us many obstacles he knows we can overcome, and he has made all of us stronger through this journey. My dad is also very ill; he had two heart attacks so we are able to stay strong and fight through this time for my brother. There hasn’t been anything we weren’t able to deal with together. My family has been through a lot during my short 21 years here but it has only made us stronger and closer to one another.

I hope that anyone in a similar circumstance is able to keep going and stay strong.

Thank you guys so much. ❤️

Is it normal🤔

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