Patients & Care Partners

I have served in the military most of my life. My time in the Marine Corps began right after high school. I worked as a jet mechanic all over the world before joining the Alabama and later the Mississippi Air National Guard. I loved my career and my growing family.

I was at the pinnacle of my career, named Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, when I noticed something was wrong. My right knee started to get in the way of my ability to do my job. I just thought, “I’m getting old!”. I began having trouble walking, and it became hard to drive. I went to see the nurse practitioner at the Navy base, but she brushed it off, giving me a knee brace and ibuprofen for pain.

After seeing no improvement, I was referred to a sports medicine doctor who believed I had a meniscus tear, and scheduled surgery. But after I woke up, I knew it hadn’t gone as expected. When the doctor came in, he said, “Yeah, your knee was full of tumors, but I got them all.” I was not reassured and was scared in that moment. I was then sent to an oncologist, and recovery took months before being able to walk again. 

After returning to work, my knee pain came back. I found out that the tumors had returned, and a second surgery would be needed. Recovery was frustrating. Every time, I was given the impression, “We just have to cut the tumors out,” without understanding the bigger picture.

It wasn’t until the third surgery that I finally learned the diagnosis – PVNS, now known as TGCT (tenosynovial giant cell tumor). Nearly every health care provider told me, “I’ve only seen this once before.” No one was malicious – just unfamiliar with how to manage the rare condition. 

For the last time, my military career changed – but this time, it ended. My uniform hung untouched for two years. I had great aspirations for my career and so many goals left to be accomplished. For me, this loss of purpose was devastating.  

I was worn out from repeated surgeries. Eventually, I learned that TGCT is a complicated condition, where surgery isn’t always the answer. Seeking specialists helped with better understanding my options, including oral chemotherapy and pain management.

During this process, I learned to advocate for myself – bringing loved ones to appointments to help ask good questions and listen. 

“The journey with TGCT requires tenacity – it’s a long game. We must be strategic and not get too frustrated when progress is slow.”

Despite everything, life has given me something priceless: more time with my children. I find joy in making their breakfast, packing their lunches, and driving them to school every day. One morning, my daughter said, “Daddy, I’m glad you don’t go anywhere anymore.” While things are different now, that moment helped me realize just how much I have gained and am thankful for. 

“Semper Gumby”– always flexible! It’s not a failure, just a shift. I still mourn what I’ve lost and struggle with pain, but I remind myself, “You have to give yourself grace,” and keep moving forward with hope.