Greg was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2010 at the age of 13.  The news came as a complete shock to his family. Greg was an active and athletic child who loved playing lacrosse and football. He seemed perfectly healthy until he felt a lump in his neck.

His parents recall, “When we first heard the word lymphoma, we were devastated and scared.  As we learned more about lymphomas, we were encouraged, particularly when Greg was formally diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a highly curable cancer. We were also fortunate to have had access to our conscientious pediatrician, a top notch oncology team, and a world class medical facility.” 

Although he was only 13 at the time of his diagnosis, Greg understood that managing his cancer would be the challenge of a lifetime. His treatment consisted of 6 months of chemotherapy and 3 weeks of radiation in order to get to his cure. Despite the side effects, Greg maintained a positive attitude and was confident that he would beat his cancer. He completed his treatment in the summer of 2011.

Greg looks for ways to advocate for other pediatric cancer patients, and is interested in providing newly diagnosed pediatric and adolescent patients with information and encouragement as they prepare for their own treatment journeys. 

As of summer 2015, Greg is now four years cancer free.  He graduated from high school in June, and will be attending college starting in August.  While he continues to undergo routine post treatment check-ups, his family is confident that he will continue to remain cancer free and enjoy a healthy adulthood.  Greg continues to be grateful for the wonderful care that he receives from the pediatric oncology team at Duke Children's Hospital. 

Quote: “Our child is one of the lucky ones because he has an excellent prognosis for cure. Unfortunately, too many other parents of childhood cancer patients spend each day with the realization that their child could become an Angel at any time. We all have an obligation to raise awareness about childhood cancers and the need for research into better treatments.”
                                                                                   - Greg’s Mother Rita

Information provided by Greg’s Mother Rita
Updated: July 2015