so what happened to you this is a question that I have been asked every
question that I have been asked every
question that I have been asked every single day for the past ten years of my
single day for the past ten years of my
single day for the past ten years of my life
life
life though I probably would it make sense to
though I probably would it make sense to
though I probably would it make sense to tell the truth it was just too difficult
tell the truth it was just too difficult
tell the truth it was just too difficult at the time I prefer to avoid it
at the time I prefer to avoid it
at the time I prefer to avoid it at first I would reply with nonsense
at first I would reply with nonsense
at first I would reply with nonsense such as an operation or it’s a long
such as an operation or it’s a long
such as an operation or it’s a long story
story
story and to be fair this wasn’t too far from
and to be fair this wasn’t too far from
and to be fair this wasn’t too far from the truth until I got tired of repeating
the truth until I got tired of repeating
the truth until I got tired of repeating myself so I decided to spice things up a
myself so I decided to spice things up a
myself so I decided to spice things up a bit to become more creative
bit to become more creative
bit to become more creative I remember convincing a cab driver that
I remember convincing a cab driver that
I remember convincing a cab driver that I was a part of the boss be contained in
I was a part of the boss be contained in
I was a part of the boss be contained in the Youth Olympics that saved the day
the Youth Olympics that saved the day
the Youth Olympics that saved the day shooting that wading through stumbling
shooting that wading through stumbling
shooting that wading through stumbling and breaking my leg in the process
but what really happened let me
but what really happened let me introduce myself my name is Dominic
introduce myself my name is Dominic
introduce myself my name is Dominic shell I’m 20 years old and I’m a cancer
shell I’m 20 years old and I’m a cancer
shell I’m 20 years old and I’m a cancer survivor to be more specific a sarcoma
survivor to be more specific a sarcoma
survivor to be more specific a sarcoma survivor I’m the one in two who survived
survivor I’m the one in two who survived
survivor I’m the one in two who survived the stratiform
now let me take you right back the start
now let me take you right back the start of my journey I want you to imagine
of my journey I want you to imagine
of my journey I want you to imagine healthy happy and sporty kid I want you
healthy happy and sporty kid I want you
healthy happy and sporty kid I want you to imagine yourselves at 10 years old
to imagine yourselves at 10 years old
to imagine yourselves at 10 years old life was pretty great wasn’t it
life was pretty great wasn’t it
life was pretty great wasn’t it not a single worry in the world until
not a single worry in the world until
not a single worry in the world until one day you get this pain in your life
one day you get this pain in your life
one day you get this pain in your life you notice it because what ten-year-old
you notice it because what ten-year-old
you notice it because what ten-year-old is familiar with the sensation of pain
is familiar with the sensation of pain
is familiar with the sensation of pain but you’re a healthy kid right so you
but you’re a healthy kid right so you
but you’re a healthy kid right so you assume is nothing but a simple sports
assume is nothing but a simple sports
assume is nothing but a simple sports injury you don’t read into it because
injury you don’t read into it because
injury you don’t read into it because why would you you’re a healthy happy
so how can I explain that gut feeling
so how can I explain that gut feeling that something was wrong
that something was wrong
that something was wrong well to be honest I can’t all I know is
well to be honest I can’t all I know is
well to be honest I can’t all I know is that I kept nagging my mother to take me
that I kept nagging my mother to take me
that I kept nagging my mother to take me to the doctors and then hardly ever been
to the doctors and then hardly ever been
to the doctors and then hardly ever been to the doctor before apart from the odd
to the doctor before apart from the odd
to the doctor before apart from the odd ejection here and then so why not
ejection here and then so why not
ejection here and then so why not annoyingly our local GP was away but as
annoyingly our local GP was away but as
annoyingly our local GP was away but as luck would have it her placements turned
luck would have it her placements turned
luck would have it her placements turned out to be a children an adolescent
out to be a children an adolescent
out to be a children an adolescent specialist she’s got my leg and I was
specialist she’s got my leg and I was
specialist she’s got my leg and I was instantly wary of the heat it was giving
instantly wary of the heat it was giving
instantly wary of the heat it was giving up as well as the fact that my cough was
up as well as the fact that my cough was
up as well as the fact that my cough was one centimeter larger in diameter and
one centimeter larger in diameter and
one centimeter larger in diameter and the other that’s when the alarm bells
the other that’s when the alarm bells
the other that’s when the alarm bells started ringing
within three days we found ourselves at
within three days we found ourselves at a university hospital in Switzerland in
a university hospital in Switzerland in
a university hospital in Switzerland in the pediatric oncology ward or at
the pediatric oncology ward or at
the pediatric oncology ward or at Simplot service the children’s cancer
Simplot service the children’s cancer
Simplot service the children’s cancer ward it was looking like a malignant
ward it was looking like a malignant
ward it was looking like a malignant tumor two biopsies later it was
tumor two biopsies later it was
tumor two biopsies later it was confirmed
now I don’t know about you but here in I
now I don’t know about you but here in I had cancer at ten years old was
had cancer at ten years old was
had cancer at ten years old was absolutely meaningless what hit me was
absolutely meaningless what hit me was
absolutely meaningless what hit me was when my parents reacted my mother who
when my parents reacted my mother who
when my parents reacted my mother who never cried was tearing up in my father
never cried was tearing up in my father
never cried was tearing up in my father fell silent
I underwent 18 chemotherapy sessions
I underwent 18 chemotherapy sessions each lasting a week all in all it was
each lasting a week all in all it was
each lasting a week all in all it was help chemotherapy had so many negative
help chemotherapy had so many negative
help chemotherapy had so many negative effects waiting to hit me weight loss
effects waiting to hit me weight loss
effects waiting to hit me weight loss ulcers exhaustion hair loss cravings I
ulcers exhaustion hair loss cravings I
ulcers exhaustion hair loss cravings I had these crazy cravings pancakes
had these crazy cravings pancakes
had these crazy cravings pancakes snails cheese fondue
snails cheese fondue
snails cheese fondue sadly however these foods never stayed
sadly however these foods never stayed
sadly however these foods never stayed in him for very long thanks to the
in him for very long thanks to the
in him for very long thanks to the chemotherapy throwing-up was part of my
chemotherapy throwing-up was part of my
chemotherapy throwing-up was part of my daily life it got to the point where I
daily life it got to the point where I
daily life it got to the point where I was so sick that the doctors had to
was so sick that the doctors had to
was so sick that the doctors had to sedate me for the duration of the
sedate me for the duration of the
sedate me for the duration of the treatment sometimes after two or three
treatment sometimes after two or three
treatment sometimes after two or three days in a row
during my time in hospital I became
during my time in hospital I became close to a fellow sacrament patient
close to a fellow sacrament patient
close to a fellow sacrament patient Killian he was 15 at the time I consider
Killian he was 15 at the time I consider
Killian he was 15 at the time I consider him to be the silver lining with my
him to be the silver lining with my
him to be the silver lining with my experience however his story is
experience however his story is
experience however his story is different to mine he went multiple
different to mine he went multiple
different to mine he went multiple doctors complaining of kings in his
doctors complaining of kings in his
doctors complaining of kings in his thigh but these were mistakenly
thigh but these were mistakenly
thigh but these were mistakenly diagnosed as growing pains so for months
diagnosed as growing pains so for months
diagnosed as growing pains so for months and months his tumor grew and grew until
and months his tumor grew and grew until
and months his tumor grew and grew until he was correctly diagnosed Killian was
he was correctly diagnosed Killian was
he was correctly diagnosed Killian was like a big brother team he was someone I
like a big brother team he was someone I
like a big brother team he was someone I looked up to enormous he during my
looked up to enormous he during my
looked up to enormous he during my treatment he had their greatest loss and
treatment he had their greatest loss and
treatment he had their greatest loss and he’d always be jerking around with the
he’d always be jerking around with the
he’d always be jerking around with the Nexus no matter mistake he was it
but sarcoma has a tendency to spread to
but sarcoma has a tendency to spread to the lungs sadly this happened to Killian
the lungs sadly this happened to Killian
the lungs sadly this happened to Killian he underwent surgery after surgery
he underwent surgery after surgery
he underwent surgery after surgery removing nodules that just kept coming
removing nodules that just kept coming
removing nodules that just kept coming back until they could no longer operate
back until they could no longer operate
back until they could no longer operate they couldn’t cut away anymore of his
they couldn’t cut away anymore of his
they couldn’t cut away anymore of his lungs
Gillian fought his battle for six years
Gillian fought his battle for six years never letting thanks for giving away of
never letting thanks for giving away of
never letting thanks for giving away of his life he passed away four years
four months into my treatments it was
four months into my treatments it was time to remove the cancer from I like to
time to remove the cancer from I like to
time to remove the cancer from I like to ensure they took the whole tumor out
ensure they took the whole tumor out
ensure they took the whole tumor out they removed ten centimeters with my
they removed ten centimeters with my
they removed ten centimeters with my tibia and replaced it with the burn from
tibia and replaced it with the burn from
tibia and replaced it with the burn from the burn back this is essentially a dead
the burn back this is essentially a dead
the burn back this is essentially a dead burn that was expected to unite with my
burn that was expected to unite with my
burn that was expected to unite with my own I’d be lying if I said I can recall
own I’d be lying if I said I can recall
own I’d be lying if I said I can recall every single detail that day after all
every single detail that day after all
every single detail that day after all it was ten years ago however I remember
it was ten years ago however I remember
it was ten years ago however I remember being told once the results came out
being told once the results came out
being told once the results came out that that had been a 100 percent removal
that that had been a 100 percent removal
that that had been a 100 percent removal rate of the tumor this was unheard of
rate of the tumor this was unheard of
rate of the tumor this was unheard of my chances of survival looking extremely
my chances of survival looking extremely
my chances of survival looking extremely positive that was
a year after my treatment ended my
a year after my treatment ended my family was given the opportunity to move
family was given the opportunity to move
family was given the opportunity to move to Singapore it was a new beginning my
to Singapore it was a new beginning my
to Singapore it was a new beginning my parents my brother and I it was time to
parents my brother and I it was time to
parents my brother and I it was time to move on and to put all those months of
move on and to put all those months of
move on and to put all those months of suffering behind us I started a new
suffering behind us I started a new
suffering behind us I started a new school and was ecstatic to stop playing
school and was ecstatic to stop playing
school and was ecstatic to stop playing sport together moving to Singapore was
sport together moving to Singapore was
sport together moving to Singapore was in a sense a way for me to step back in
in a sense a way for me to step back in
in a sense a way for me to step back in to what I considered as real life but I
to what I considered as real life but I
to what I considered as real life but I soon found out that wasn’t meant to be
soon found out that wasn’t meant to be
soon found out that wasn’t meant to be within a year when new life I realized
within a year when new life I realized
within a year when new life I realized there was no way things could ever go
there was no way things could ever go
there was no way things could ever go back to how they used to be perhaps it
back to how they used to be perhaps it
back to how they used to be perhaps it was naive to believe sir I began having
was naive to believe sir I began having
was naive to believe sir I began having bad pains in my leg again and there it
bad pains in my leg again and there it
bad pains in my leg again and there it was that dreaded fit what if there was a
was that dreaded fit what if there was a
was that dreaded fit what if there was a tumor growing inside of me what if the
tumor growing inside of me what if the
tumor growing inside of me what if the cancer was back
what if we had to go through all that
what if we had to go through all that help all over again
help all over again
help all over again well thank God it wasn’t but still the
well thank God it wasn’t but still the
well thank God it wasn’t but still the knees wasn’t good it turned out my body
knees wasn’t good it turned out my body
knees wasn’t good it turned out my body had rejected to birth abroad doctors
had rejected to birth abroad doctors
had rejected to birth abroad doctors tried screwing it together they tried
tried screwing it together they tried
tried screwing it together they tried adding burning from both my hips we all
adding burning from both my hips we all
adding burning from both my hips we all failed the burner broth was literally
failed the burner broth was literally
failed the burner broth was literally crumbling inside of me in addition while
crumbling inside of me in addition while
crumbling inside of me in addition while we were all focused on compressing the
we were all focused on compressing the
we were all focused on compressing the birds in my right leg together
birds in my right leg together
birds in my right leg together my left leg contained to burn setback
my left leg contained to burn setback
my left leg contained to burn setback after setback surgery after surgery now
after setback surgery after surgery now
after setback surgery after surgery now looking back they all budget to one but
looking back they all budget to one but
looking back they all budget to one but there is one that I and that was my
there is one that I and that was my
there is one that I and that was my biggest and longest surgery a 13-hour
biggest and longest surgery a 13-hour
biggest and longest surgery a 13-hour one when they moved to ten centimeters
one when they moved to ten centimeters
one when they moved to ten centimeters of my left fibula and placed it into my
of my left fibula and placed it into my
of my left fibula and placed it into my right tibia though it was obvious my leg
right tibia though it was obvious my leg
right tibia though it was obvious my leg was in a fragile state the only way by
was in a fragile state the only way by
was in a fragile state the only way by which my thin and tiny fibula would
which my thin and tiny fibula would
which my thin and tiny fibula would throw him to this big tibia was my
throw him to this big tibia was my
throw him to this big tibia was my stimulating it in otherwise
now it sounds pretty straightforward
now it sounds pretty straightforward doesn’t it well it turns out it’s
doesn’t it well it turns out it’s
doesn’t it well it turns out it’s everything but straightforward there is
everything but straightforward there is
everything but straightforward there is near literature on how much weight your
near literature on how much weight your
near literature on how much weight your brain can take there’s no estimate and
brain can take there’s no estimate and
brain can take there’s no estimate and there’s no signs of you ever doing it
there’s no signs of you ever doing it
there’s no signs of you ever doing it until crack it breaks three times I’ve
until crack it breaks three times I’ve
until crack it breaks three times I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this
had the pleasure of experiencing this
had the pleasure of experiencing this excruciating pain and there ain’t
excruciating pain and there ain’t
excruciating pain and there ain’t nothing is drastic as a full moon just
nothing is drastic as a full moon just
nothing is drastic as a full moon just one step was enough to avoid this from
one step was enough to avoid this from
one step was enough to avoid this from happening I had to wear a number of
happening I had to wear a number of
happening I had to wear a number of external fixators drilled through my
external fixators drilled through my
external fixators drilled through my darkness though it was difficult to
darkness though it was difficult to
darkness though it was difficult to accept the fact that I had to wear these
accept the fact that I had to wear these
accept the fact that I had to wear these ugly contractions the hardest part was
ugly contractions the hardest part was
ugly contractions the hardest part was the attention
the attention
the attention the fear and disgust it was tough
so how was I meant to live my life
so how was I meant to live my life happily but everything that has happened
happily but everything that has happened
happily but everything that has happened and is still happening is beyond my
and is still happening is beyond my
and is still happening is beyond my control
control
control well I had a choice I gave you the
well I had a choice I gave you the
well I had a choice I gave you the foreword to the dangerous path of
foreword to the dangerous path of
foreword to the dangerous path of depression and self-pity boy could rise
depression and self-pity boy could rise
depression and self-pity boy could rise above it and realized that I survived
above it and realized that I survived
above it and realized that I survived cancer I survived the odds
cancer I survived the odds
cancer I survived the odds so why would I choose negativity and
so why would I choose negativity and
so why would I choose negativity and pessimism when I’m one of the luckiest
pessimism when I’m one of the luckiest
pessimism when I’m one of the luckiest people in this world
so what’s that accepted the fact that I
so what’s that accepted the fact that I was different but I was a kid who had
was different but I was a kid who had
was different but I was a kid who had cancer what was I going to do in order
cancer what was I going to do in order
cancer what was I going to do in order to move forward I had a choice
there was no Epiphany there was no
there was no Epiphany there was no sudden moment I said to myself Dominique
sudden moment I said to myself Dominique
sudden moment I said to myself Dominique this is the path to take
this is the path to take
this is the path to take it was gradual like a scruple an
it was gradual like a scruple an
it was gradual like a scruple an accumulation of acceptance confidence
accumulation of acceptance confidence
accumulation of acceptance confidence and maturity as well as a realization
and maturity as well as a realization
and maturity as well as a realization that people were actually interested in
that people were actually interested in
that people were actually interested in my past everything is my confidence
my past everything is my confidence
my past everything is my confidence began to birth both mentally and
began to birth both mentally and
began to birth both mentally and physically I began to open up about the
physically I began to open up about the
physically I began to open up about the infamous see what and I received so much
infamous see what and I received so much
infamous see what and I received so much support it turned out I wasn’t alert I
support it turned out I wasn’t alert I
support it turned out I wasn’t alert I had a whole crowd of people behind me
had a whole crowd of people behind me
had a whole crowd of people behind me and once I opened up yours
and once I opened up yours
and once I opened up yours I became youth ambassador for some
I became youth ambassador for some
I became youth ambassador for some prematurity I spoke at Aventis I visited
prematurity I spoke at Aventis I visited
prematurity I spoke at Aventis I visited children’s cancer wards and I gave those
children’s cancer wards and I gave those
children’s cancer wards and I gave those kids hope
kids hope
kids hope sure that if there is such a thing has
sure that if there is such a thing has
sure that if there is such a thing has light at the end of the tunnel and all
light at the end of the tunnel and all
light at the end of the tunnel and all of this came from speaking up to share
of this came from speaking up to share
of this came from speaking up to share it and my message always stays the same
it and my message always stays the same
it and my message always stays the same like happiness
like happiness
like happiness is by no means limited by my health if
is by no means limited by my health if
is by no means limited by my health if anything it’s made me more brave more
anything it’s made me more brave more
anything it’s made me more brave more appreciative for what I do have in life
yeah a half ago I started up my own
yeah a half ago I started up my own foundation
foundation
foundation actual sarcoma in Melbourne out
actual sarcoma in Melbourne out
actual sarcoma in Melbourne out originally moved up to start my studies
originally moved up to start my studies
originally moved up to start my studies in biomedicine but surprise surprise
in biomedicine but surprise surprise
in biomedicine but surprise surprise I had yet another setback this time with
I had yet another setback this time with
I had yet another setback this time with an aggressive bacteria eating away at my
an aggressive bacteria eating away at my
an aggressive bacteria eating away at my boat that forced me to move back to Asia
luckily though I was in Melbourne enough
luckily though I was in Melbourne enough time for practical sacrament to kick off
how did it all start well with a small
how did it all start well with a small conversation with a stranger
conversation with a stranger
conversation with a stranger it turned out people would talk why the
it turned out people would talk why the
it turned out people would talk why the travel and next thing I know this
travel and next thing I know this
travel and next thing I know this amazing guy offered to an American on
amazing guy offered to an American on
amazing guy offered to an American on crutches to support my course what lucky
crutches to support my course what lucky
crutches to support my course what lucky did was absolutely amazing he raised
did was absolutely amazing he raised
did was absolutely amazing he raised over $10,000 and so much awareness
another unexpected campaign that
another unexpected campaign that completely
completely
completely it was my open letter to Taylor Swift
it was my open letter to Taylor Swift
it was my open letter to Taylor Swift asking him to visit sick kids in
asking him to visit sick kids in
asking him to visit sick kids in hospital within three days
hospital within three days
hospital within three days – lacked averaged over 8,500 likes in
– lacked averaged over 8,500 likes in
– lacked averaged over 8,500 likes in 1200 shares on Facebook
1200 shares on Facebook
1200 shares on Facebook though she is unable to meet the sick
though she is unable to meet the sick
though she is unable to meet the sick kids due to her busy schedule she
kids due to her busy schedule she
kids due to her busy schedule she invited me along with the soccer miss
invited me along with the soccer miss
invited me along with the soccer miss survivor to go to her concert and meet
survivor to go to her concert and meet
survivor to go to her concert and meet her and her mother backstage so what was
her and her mother backstage so what was
her and her mother backstage so what was my name in setting up much worse
my name in setting up much worse
my name in setting up much worse Aukerman and what do I her to achieve
Aukerman and what do I her to achieve
Aukerman and what do I her to achieve well soccer his nickname is a forgotten
well soccer his nickname is a forgotten
well soccer his nickname is a forgotten cancer lack of awareness means lack of
cancer lack of awareness means lack of
cancer lack of awareness means lack of funds lack of funds means little to no
funds lack of funds means little to no
funds lack of funds means little to no research and to many years diamond
research and to many years diamond
research and to many years diamond sarcoma each year I was one of the lucky
sarcoma each year I was one of the lucky
sarcoma each year I was one of the lucky ones I survived and that’s why I feel
ones I survived and that’s why I feel
ones I survived and that’s why I feel it’s my duty to speak up on behalf of
it’s my duty to speak up on behalf of
it’s my duty to speak up on behalf of all of these sick children fighters
all of these sick children fighters
all of these sick children fighters survivors
survivors
survivors and angels I think if there’s one thing
and angels I think if there’s one thing
and angels I think if there’s one thing I think if there’s one thing that casa
I think if there’s one thing that casa
I think if there’s one thing that casa teaches you for any other
teaches you for any other
teaches you for any other life-threatening illness its to focus on
life-threatening illness its to focus on
life-threatening illness its to focus on what really matters in life it’s about
what really matters in life it’s about
what really matters in life it’s about taking any negative situation and
taking any negative situation and
taking any negative situation and turning it into a positive one it’s
turning it into a positive one it’s
turning it into a positive one it’s about embracing opportunities and mostly
about embracing opportunities and mostly
about embracing opportunities and mostly importantly it’s about finding light
importantly it’s about finding light
importantly it’s about finding light around women
around women
around women on that note I leave you with a quote
on that note I leave you with a quote
on that note I leave you with a quote that I can push to my heart through
that I can push to my heart through
that I can push to my heart through Steve Jobs life has no limit go where
Steve Jobs life has no limit go where
Steve Jobs life has no limit go where you want to go reach the height you want
you want to go reach the height you want
you want to go reach the height you want to reach it’s all in your heart
”
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