When Daniel Biljanoski was 12 years old, his parents were told he had less than a year to live. A cancerous tumor that covered a quarter of his brain had just been removed and, according to his doctors, survival was uncommon. Can you imagine hearing that about your child? Well, that was more than five years ago, and while many find it hard to believe, the now 17-year-old Daniel is cancer free, graduated high school with honors this summer, plays tennis and is about to start college where he plans to study medicine.
How did he do it?
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Besides an aggressive and painful treatment that involved countless chemotherapy and radiation sessions at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, it's undeniable that Daniel's positive attitude played a part in his miraculous recovery. Not to mention his mother's unrelenting love, strength and hope.
Listening to Lisa Bijanoski's determination on Nightline was heartbreaking:
Daniel and I talked the first night the neurosurgeon told him that it was cancer, and we were curled up together in the hospital bed, and I said to him, 'You know what Daniel? I'm going to turn off all my emotions right now except for strength and hope and faith. I'm not going to cry about it because I can't. I have to stay strong.' And he squeezed my hand, and ever since then we've just thought this is something we have to do.
And I guess she's totally right. I mean, what else can a mom do when faced with something as terrifying as a potentially deadly tumor in her son's brain? This inspiring story reminds me not to take anything for granted and to be even more thankful that my kids are healthy. But it also reinforces the idea that faith can truly move mountains.
Image via abcnews.go.com
