Daniel Mathis was 14 years old and diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Anaplastic Lymphoma. It took multiple doctors to find Daniel’s cancer. Daniel was admitted into Baptist Health in Paducah, Ky, for pneumonia in both lungs. After leaving Baptist Health, Daniel was transferred to Monroe Carroll Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. He spent three months in the infectious disease unit until July 26, 2017, when the family was informed Daniel had cancer. Daniel’s family was torn when they heard those words. Daniel’s mother was a single mom of two, working full-time. A month into Daniel’s stay at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, God sent an amazing lady named Mrs. Gaylon. She came into Daniel’s life at the lowest point of his treatment. Gaylon made the Mathis family feel loved and let them know that God would help them through their rough times. Daniel underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy. After losing all his hair and feeling like the world was against him, he made sure to push through the pain every day.
Daniel met an amazing little girl during his stay in Nashville. She helped Daniel realize he could still enjoy daily life while still being sick. Also, Daniel was airlifted multiple times because his counts dropped while visiting family. Daniel went into remission after eight long months of living in and out of the hospital for doctor’s appointments and CAT-Scans.
Daniel graduated from Blackman High School in 2022. He is now working in construction full-time and living his life to the fullest. Daniel loves fishing and has even taken up kayaking with friends and family. Daniel once said he wants to continue living for his friends that he lost to childhood cancer. He wants to keep their memories with him forever and wants to remember all the good they brought to him. Daniel is a childhood cancer survivor and will forever be a survivor of the scariest disease known to man. Daniel’s mother once said, “Your Battle is my Battle.” Daniel and his family continue to live by those words.
Written by Darian King PCT, sister of Daniel