When David Dallas was 12 years old and undergoing cancer treatments, his hands became so blistered from the chemotherapy he couldn’t play his guitar. What kept him going at that time was the thought of playing his guitar again. Now, your support is keeping him going.
David’s blisters were one of many side effects from the chemotherapy and although it was temporarily robbing him of the one thing he loved most, the cocktail of powerful drugs was saving his life.
David was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was 12 years old. It started with severe stomach pain that wouldn’t go away. After several visits to the emergency centre, David received an ultrasound that revealed an 18-centimetre tumour. Over the next four months, David underwent intensive cancer treatment, which included chemotherapy to the spine and brain by spinal tap.
What kept David going during this time was the support of his family and friends and the amazing nurses and, of course, his music. Isolated and unable to play his guitar at the hospital, David’s only thought was of the moment he would play again.
On the horizon for David was the fulfillment of a wish through the Children’s Wish Foundation, which would make that moment even sweeter. Unlike most kids, however, David’s wish wasn’t a trip to Disneyland. David asked for music equipment and a Les Paul guitar—his Sadie—the guitar he still uses to this day.
David is a quiet, intelligent young man with enormous talent and promise. He’s still holding on to that dream of making music. With a Kids Cancer Care Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship to Mount Royal University, you helped David make that all-important first step toward his dream of becoming a professional jazz musician.
Now, just like that 12-year-old boy biding his time at the hospital so many years ago, David is biding his time again—this time for admission to the Berkley School of Music in Boston.
“The one thing I learned during my cancer experience was to not sweat the small stuff and to keep my eye on the big picture,” says David.
And that’s exactly what David is doing.
In 2014, your generous support made scholarships possible for nine survivors like David.