Andrew O’Bryan
I’m Andrew O’Bryan and on June 11, 2010, a tumor was found in my left leg from the knee down and I was diagnosed with Stage 2b Osteosarcoma (bone cancer). My life as a 12-year-old boy changed forever. I received chemotherapy at Upstate Hospital 2-3 weeks each month for a year. I was inpatient for all my treatments.
On September 8, 2010, I had rotationplasty surgery to remove the tumor. Rotationplasty is a very unique surgery in which doctors amputate the leg, remove the cancerous parts and then reattach the leg so that the knee is the foot, giving me a natural knee joint. But on September 10, 2010, I had an emergency amputation due to vascular issues. I have an above the knee amputation of my left leg. I also had an infection in my stump in October, which put me in the hospital for 3 weeks. On March 30, 2011, I had a revision of the stump to shave the bone down further as it was growing too fast. Today, I have a prosthetic leg.
“The doctors, nurses, and support system at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital are wonderful. We are so blessed to have such an amazing facility near our home.”
Prior to my diagnosis I was very athletic, playing baseball and point guard on my basketball team. Between my diagnosis and surgery, I missed my entire 6th grade year of school while being tutored at home. Thankfully I finished treatment in June of 2011 with a goal to play sports again!
I am almost 3 years NED(No evidence of disease)!! Since then, I’ve played football, basketball, golf & swimming for my school. Recently, I made sectionals in swimming this year, my first year on the team! I also relearned how to ride a bike this past summer, a personal goal of mine. Today, I speak at cancer events about childhood cancer & being disabled. One day I hope to be a police officer & motivational speaker one day.
The doctors, nurses, and support system at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital are wonderful. We are so blessed to have such an amazing facility near our home. We WILL Either Find A Way Or Make One!
