Qualcomm Stadium in the city of San Diego became filled with walkers looking to make a difference this weekend. The Light the Night two-mile walk was held as part of a nationwide Leukemia & Lymphoma Society program. Events across the country are being held in honor of the program in order to celebrate and commemorate people who have been affected by this deadly form of cancer.

Among the 2,000 walkers at the event held for leukemia victims in San Diego was Tom Hagedorn, who is the men’s tennis coach at the University of San Diego. Hagedorn, 43, was one of many who could be seen carrying an illuminated white balloon, which signified that he was a cancer survivor. Those supporting cancer patients held red-lit balloons and walkers holding illuminated balloons represented loved ones who had passed away from leukemia.

Leukemia Walk Brings Back Memories

For Hagehorn and many others the evening brought back memories of days spent in the hospital and receiving a diagnosis no one wants to hear. However, it also served as inspiration to those around them and reminded all the walkers that this disease can be fought.

When Hagedorn was diagnosed with leukemia 14 months ago, the doctor told him he should pack his bags and move into the hospital to immediately begin chemotherapy. It was only three days into his treatment when Hagedorn’s body began rejecting the treatment drugs and his lungs begin to hemorrhage. As a result, he fell into a coma and was transferred to the intensive-care unit. His wife, Melissa, was reportedly “prepared for his death” by the doctors and nurses caring for him.

It was as his family gathered at his bedside that his oxygen numbers immediately began spiking and he came out of his coma. Days after he woke up, he underwent a bone-marrow biopsy which showed that his cancer was in remission.

Nearly 15 family members gathered around Hagedorn’s bed that night. Melissa remembers Hagedorn’s mother touching her son’s leg and his oxygen numbers immediately spiking.

 “In my nearly 25 years of being a physician,” explained his physician, Dr. Krebs, “I have never seen anyone: A) have that immediate reaction to chemotherapy, and B) be in such critical condition and survive. He was as close to death as people can get and pull through. It still amazes me.”

Now, Hagedorn is back on the tennis courts at USD and walking to make a difference for all of those who were not fortunate to beat the disease, as well as those who are currently going through what he did.

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