When families are fortunate enough and blessed enough to gather with those they love this Thursday and celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s usually pretty normal when sitting down for the feast to appreciate the food in front of you. Whether you have a fondness for turkey or homemade rolls, or my personal favorite, mashed potatoes, you appreciate the food that has been prepared on this particular day.

 

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. And Bridgeport’s Jerome Axton will be taking in what will be in front of him with a smile on his face as well during his family’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. For Axton, though, it’s going to be more than what is on the table. It’s going to be about who is around the table.

 

“The turkey’s important, but it’s not the turkey that I care about. It’s the people that are going to be there with me on Thanksgiving that I care about,” said Axton. “Just to know that it looks like I’ll definitely be there and to be with the people I care most about is more important than anyone can imagine.”

 

For Axton, the words don’t ring hollow. This year is the first Thanksgiving he’s had since he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in April of this year. In layman’s terms, it is cancer. In this case, it’s a bone cancer more commonly associated with teenagers and rapid growth.

 

Since April, Axton has spent more time at Ruby Memorial Hospital than he would care to spend there. Not because he hasn’t developed an admiration and friendship with those caring for him – he has – but because he knows why he’s there. And that’s for treatment.

 

“I’d rather not be treated anywhere else other than at Ruby,” said Axton with how much he’s grown to admire those treating him.

 

Since his diagnosis in April to today, Axton has completed nearly 40 chemotherapy treatments that have proven to be time consuming and draining to him physically and mentally. Most recently, he has been going through what he described as 48 hour treatments that include six hours of hydrating himself and four hours of chemotherapy.

 

“I go in usually on a Thursday at noon and then done with everything at around 10 p.m. that night. Once that’s over, they run fluid in you to make sure your organs can function. They keep you after that in the hospital for the extra time for monitoring purposes,” said Axton. “They tell you that it’s a 72 hour treatment, but I’ve told my doctors that I won’t need that much time.”

He hasn’t. Axton said he hydrates himself constantly and it’s paying off. He’s been out of treatment in 48 hours, which he said has surprised medical staff and has helped keep his spirt upbeat in what has been the most challenging period of his still very young life.

 

“They told me that I’ll be home for Thanksgiving after my latest treatment. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for that. I can tell you that God is good,” said Axton. “You think about what you’ll be able to do next through every treatment, through the surgery. Personally, you don’t know. What you do know is that God knows what He’s doing and you lean on that.”

 

For Axton, there are just two more treatments to go. His last treatment is set up for Dec. 13. By Christmas, he should be headed completely on the road to recovery. He will need to have a minor surgery to tighten an area on his knee in the near future, but he’s walking without crutches.

 

“I’m nowhere near being able to run, but it’s coming. I’m nowhere near being able to play basketball, but I told the doctors and everyone else, and I even told you, that I’d do that too; and I will,” said Axton. “I’ve realized that it’s important to not rush things so I don’t mess up the progress I’ve already made. I’m going to have to go through a lot of physical therapy because I’ve got muscle to rebuild. I’ll start that outpatient therapy soon and I think that will make a big difference.”

 

Axton is making a difference elsewhere. The 2010 Bridgeport High School graduate is one of the oldest patients in the pediatrics unit for cancer at Ruby Memorial and he is watching kids and parents going through the most trying of ordeals.

 

“I look around and I see those kids with tubes in them and those IV bags; some so little that they have no idea what’s going on. You see the pain in the faces of the families. You know, right there, that it could be worse for me,” said Axton.

 

Axton said he’s made friends with some of those children and their families. Most notable, Axton said he’s become close with 3-year-old Hines Rotriga who is battling neuroblastoma; the same disease that eventually took the life of Gavin Morris and the same form of cancer that Bridgeport’s own Jack Rollins is so valiantly battling and staring down.

“How blessed I’ve been to meet Hines and get know his parents (Debbie and Kevin). They are amazing people and he’s this amazing kid with an amazing spirit,” said Axton. “He’s into cars and superheroes and I really try to spend as much time as possible with him.”

 

Perhaps it’s the relationship that he’s built with little Hines (click HERE to visit his Facebook page) that has changed Axton as he heads into the week where giving thanks for what you have is paramount. Perhaps it’s because he’s taken on a greater appreciation for what he has due to what he’s encountered. Perhaps there are too many reasons to list here why Jerome Axton with fading cancer is different from the one pre-cancer.

 

“I always thought I was an appreciative person for what people did for me, but now I appreciate any time I can spend with people and little things like even seeing the sun. I don’t take anything for granted anymore and I’ve learned that the hard way through cancer,” Axton said as his voice cracked with emotion. “Somewhere through this I’ve changed and that’s because of cancer. You better believe dealing with cancer has sucked and it’s been a struggle, but I’m thankful for what it’s brought into my life in other ways and thankful that I’m about to be done with it.

 

“I look back and I know it is okay that cancer has changed me because my perspective on everything has changed to the way it should be,” Axton continued. “I just know it’s even better knowing that I won’t let cancer beat me. Right now, at this time of the year, I’m thankful for that and for a chance to be home. God certainly is good.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Jerome Axton with his friend Hines Rotriga as they both go through treatment, while many of his friends have been there to offer support in his second photo. Long-time friend and Uncle Adam Iquinto is shown with Jerome in the bottom picutre. All photos used with permission of Jerome Axton from his Facebook page.