Veteran, Nurse, Cancer Survivor

In 2014, while on deployment in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, Alex was injured loading cargo and munitions on an aircraft. The lock on the pallet rollers didn’t set correctly and the pallet rolled back and struck his right leg.

“The injury required a bone graft that was successfully done and I was able to return to work and school,” said Alex.  

Following his injury, Alex finished his nursing degree and commissioned into the Air Force Reserves as a Flight Nurse in 2017. At the same time, Alex began working at the Birmingham VA Health Care System as a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Nurse.

The Diagnosis

All was going well for Alex when one day in 2019 he began experiencing sharp pains throughout his once-injured right leg – five years after his injury.
“The surgeon who performed the graft years ago evaluated me and sent me to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for further evaluation,” said Alex. “I was consulted to see an Orthopaedic Oncologist where they performed a biopsy and revealed that I had High-Grade Osteosarcoma.”

High-Grade Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that begins in the cells that form bones and will grow and spread quickly if left untreated.

“When I heard the news, to say I was devastated was an understatement,” said Alex. “Me? At 28? I’m in the best shape of my life; I eat healthy, and I never smoke or drink irresponsibly. I just bought a new house, I have a wife and two children. What if I can’t beat this? What if I leave my children fatherless in their young age? My wife is a stay at home mom, how will we make it through financially? I told myself, I have to beat this.”

The Treatment

Alex had to undergo six rounds of chemotherapy – two before surgery and four after surgery. During surgery to remove the tumor, a megaprosthesis – a large prosthetic to replace a limb - was placed in his right leg to replace his entire right knee and half of his femur.

“I had to learn how to walk again with a mechanical joint that doesn’t have ligaments,” said Alex. “My leg muscles had to learn to control the artificial joint.”

Through a lengthy treatment process and recovery, Alex said his Birmingham VA coworkers supported him throughout his journey and donated enough paid time off to support him and his family financially.

“To say that was a blessing is also an understatement,” said Alex. “God used my VA family to keep everything going for us, and my incredible wife took care of me, the kids, and everything else.”

The Recovery

In 2020, Alex was considered in remission, and 10 years after treatment with no cancer detected, he will officially be considered cancer free in 2030.  

“Beating cancer is indescribable,” said Alex. “I celebrate every day by enjoying the little things in life that we take for granted. During my medical leave, I longed for the purpose of work that the VA gives me.”

During his recovery, Alex said he spent hours training and pushing himself through rehab of cycling, walking, and stretching to take his family to Disney World. 

“I booked a trip to Disney World the week of my surgery in 2019 that we had to cancel,” said Alex. “Throughout treatment, I envisioned that trip repeatedly during the long eight-hour infusion days. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled two more trips before we finally were able to go in February 2022. I walked a pain-free 48 miles through the Disney Parks and we did everything because my kids deserved it and I was not going to let them down.”

Today, Alex is now a Captain in the Air Force Reserves as a Flight Nurse and still proudly serves Veterans as a Registered Nurse at the Birmingham VA.

“I have a lot to be thankful for,” said Alex. “My family, my friends, my VA family, and my Veteran family. It brings me great honor to give back to those who selflessly served to provide the freedoms we enjoy each and every day”