Last fall, Jeremy noticed some discoloration across his torso and bumps over his body,  He went to a dermatologist in his hometown of Roxboro, North Carolina, who in turn referred him to UNC Hospitals for further testing.

Eventually diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer in the lymph nodes, Jeremy underwent a successful bone marrow transplant this past April.  For the past several weeks, he’s been a guest at our hospitality house while receiving follow-up treatments that included radiation, more biopsies, immunosuppressant medications, etc. While all of this was going on, his blood counts were closely monitored.

During his stay here, Jeremy’s grandmother, Elaine, and his mother, Rachel, have been here for alternating weeks, supporting him every step of the way on this long journey. Quiet, unassuming and never one to complain, according to Elaine, this 22-year-old has been a real trooper.  Oftentimes we’d see him getting ready to board the first shuttle to the hospital or relaxing in a rocking chair on the front porch. Elaine needed to stay busy between Jeremy’s appointments, so many times we’d find her in the Pine living room folding laundry – a huge help to us since we’re full most nights.

Asked what staying here has meant to them, Jeremy shared that he’s able to get a good night’s sleep and enjoy the meals that are provided by our volunteer meal teams.

Elaine said, “I have a lot to say.  The facility is immaculate.  The volunteers and staff are awesome. I’ve met a lot of people who’ve been through a lot. When people ask about you, you can tell that they genuinely care about you. There is always someone here to talk to. The food is delicious. My favorite place is the porch and the rocking chairs.”

As for the future, Jeremy is looking forward to seeing more of his family and getting back to work.  We wish him an uneventful and good recovery, knowing that he has a bright future ahead of him.