Steven Danna

2021 Courage Ride Patient Honoree

I am Steven Danna, a cancer survivor.

June 14th, 2019, my life would be forever changed when the doctors told me that I had been diagnosed with an osteosarcoma.

Every high school athlete's dream is to perform at the varsity level. My sophomore season was no different, other than the pain I began experiencing at the beginning of the season. The pain in my right knee was excruciating at times, but I never thought anything of it. Throughout the season, my physical therapist and pediatrician both believed it was tendonitis or bursitis, common for athletes in their joints. During the four month tennis season I tried to keep the pain out of my mind and focus on the main goal, winning a state title. Though a state title didn't happen that year, we ended up bringing home 3rd. All this happened while my condition worsened. The following weeks after the state tournament were some of the most painful weeks of my life. I couldn't sleep (and when I did it was on the floor). I took five blistering hot showers a day, as that was the only time when I was relieved of the pain. These actions prompted me to get to the bottom of what was wrong with my knee. My physical therapist noticed that the bump on my knee was larger, and that I wasn't getting any relief. So, he ended up sending me to a sports medicine specialist. He performed an ultrasound and an x-ray on June 12th. Just two days later, on June 14th, I was diagnosed with what could be an osteosarcoma on my right knee.

No one knew what to think. I told all of my close friends over the next few days, and many didn’t know how to react. Soon after that, I would get messages from hundreds of people, cheering me on. With the community behind me, I knew it was my fight to win. For about the next week, time seemed to move in slow motion. I would meet Dr. Miller and Jill Kain a couple days later. They seemed confident and reassured me everything would be alright. I felt that I was definitely in the right hands going forward. On June 18th, I would see them again in Iowa City for my port placement along with my biopsy. I was incredibly nervous as I didn’t know what exactly I would wake up to. The biopsy confirmed the doctor’s diagnosis, and that's truly when reality set in. One thing that helped me make more sense of things was a friend of a friend named Michael, a fellow cancer survivor. He gave me an insight on what to expect and some tricks he had learned. Though adults have a different treatment schedule, it was still nice to know I would never be alone. Once he told me my hair was going to fall out, I had the bright idea to go blonde. This helped lighten everyone up seeing the kid who has always cared so much about his hair, decide to go bright blonde.

That next week, chemo started at Blank Children's Hospital. There I would meet some of the coolest doctors and nurses and form bonds with them that will never be broken. During those first three days of chemo, I would throw up more than I had in my entire life. It was brutal to say the least. Before chemo, I couldn't even swallow an Advil, and now, I was forcing 20 pills down a day, or so my nurses thought. On occasion the pills would be hidden around my room when I couldn't stand to take anymore. I would have chemo for three weeks at a time, and then have a week or two at home. Throughout these first rounds of chemo, I would drop almost 30 pounds and the doctors told me I was at risk for malnutrition. By the time school rolled around, that was the least of my worries. Luckily, my school worked with me and allowed me to take online classes. I never thought I would actually want to go back to school.

Throughout my first three months of chemo, I had plenty of scary moments. Twice I had trouble breathing due to my medicine I was getting. Twice I was admitted in the middle of the night due to a fever. I broke out in hives and had many cold and hot spells as well. I never thought it was going to end. Who knew that the biggest surgery of my life would completely change my outlook on everything going forward.

After three months of chemo that was split up into 10 different sessions, the surgery date was here. I would go up to Iowa City the day before, on September 23rd, to get all sorts of tests done to make sure I was ready. The morning of the 24th, I took a walk around Kinnick stadium with my parents, one of my last walks for a while. I got many messages from loved ones and friends, letting me know that I can do it. I had a long morning of talking with what seemed a million different people, and then the surgery began. I woke up about six hours later with a new knee and tibia, and surprisingly wasn't in too much pain. I learned that the tumor was 100% removed with 99% necrosis. I certainly wasn't happy to hear that I couldn't bear any weight for six weeks, but I was just relieved that the tumor was gone. During my week in Iowa City, I got to experience the coolest tradition in sports, The Wave. I honestly don't remember it that well, but it is surreal to know that I was up there. I got visits from friends and family, along with Luka Garza and Fran and Patrick McCaffery. I got some strong words of encouragement that kept me motivated to keep my head up during this seemingly endless road to recovery.

The road to recovery was a long one, and chemo did not help. I would have no energy for weeks at a time, and had no motivation to do my physical therapy exercises. My first PT appointment was on November 6th, and I was able to bend my knee about 30 degrees. I was stuck in a straight leg brace and was seemingly glued to a walker and my wheelchair. As time went on, we noticed my scar still wasn't healed at the bottom, and once again I was in Iowa City for another surgery. This time, I was more excited than nervous, just for a change of scenery and a fun trip away from Des Moines. I got a three week break from treatment, and it felt like a vacation you have always dreamt of.

December to February were definitely the toughest months of it all. I suffered countless delays due to not being healthy enough for chemo to be admitted. Even though I was so discouraged due to all of the delays, my friends and family helped me reach the finish line in early March. On March 5th I was admitted for my final round of chemo. My nurses even put up a “straight outta chemo” sign on the door to celebrate. I rolled out of the hospital late on March 8th, and the reality that I was finally done with treatment finally set in.

Now that I had finished up treatment, the real work was able to start. Being at physical therapy 3-4 times a week for almost six months allowed me to go from crutches to running sprints, and a 30 degree knee bend to just under 120 degrees. I began lifting weights to try and get back into the shape I had used to be in, and it slowly started to come back. Now, I am able to snowboard, play tennis and basketball, and live my life as any 18 year old should.

Thousands of pills were taken over the 10 months of treatment I experienced. I spent about 60 nights and what seemed like countless days in a hospital bed. I have had more shots and punctures with needles than I could have ever imagined. Over 100 physical therapy visits, along with many long days of scans in the hospital. Yet four surgeries and a new leg later, I am back and better than ever.

Regardless of everything that has happened, it has shaped me into the person I am today. Everyone always says how terrible everything must have been, but there were so many incredible things that have come from it. I have relationships with my doctors that I will cherish forever. It brought my family closer than ever before and allowed me to grow up faster than they could have imagined. None of it could have been done without each and every single person I came into contact with throughout the duration of my fight.

I write my story in hopes that I can help spread awareness to sarcoma research, and maybe one day, others won't have to undergo the experiences that I have gone through.