It all started about a year and a half ago. Of all things I can credit for helping me discover my health issue, I have to say it’s flag football. I was playing on our on-base team when made a hard cut and felt a deep sharp pain in my left hip joint. I didn’t think too much of it until I was still having issues a couple of weeks later. I had an X-ray done and it was then that the doctors realized my bone color was off and they immediately ordered an MRI. Eventually they discovered, at the time, what they thought was a cyst in the head of my femur. They believed that it was causing the bone to collapse. In November of 2014, I had surgery to drill into the joint and scrape/pack the cyst with bone graph. The biopsy came back negative for cancer cells and I was told that I would make a full recovery. I was obviously excited with the fact that I would be fine, so I went about life trying to heal.
Unfortunately, I never felt 100% and the pain slowly returned. By the time the summer came around, I was back to a limp and knew something wasn’t right. Once I returned to work in Aug, I went and saw my orthopedic surgeon and explained the pain that I had been experiencing. He ordered another MRI and the results were not good. The bone looked like it was dying. The doctors thought that it was something called avascular necrosis which is essentially bone death due to lack of blood flow. This meant that I needed to have my hip replaced before it broke. On September 5th, 2015, I had a full left hip replacement which, went extremely well…except one thing. The doctors found that the head of my femur was as soft as a ‘stress ball’ and they became very concerned that it could be diseased bone.
3 weeks later, while home trying to recover from the surgery, I received a call from the orthopedic surgeon. I knew something wasn’t right as it was a saturday and I was getting a call from the doctor directly. He stated, “You have been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer called Chondrosarcoma.” I was speechless, lost, angry, confused….I was caught completely off guard.
After a couple of days of wondering and doing my own research, we started the process of scans. I had CT scans, MRIs, and bone scans. The results also presented some bad news. The cancer had spread to my lungs. I had two (2) small masses in my right lung along with one (1) in my left lung, all of which needed to be removed. So, the second week of October, I had my first Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery on my right lung. While it went well, it was not a fun recovery as the surgeon had to go in through my ribs. Both masses came back positive as Chondrosarcoma so 2 weeks later I had surgery on my left lung. Again, not a fun recovery but I am done with surgeries…at least for now.
I was considered mass free since the news of cancer a couple of months prior and I was finally starting to feel hopeful and healthy again. I had dropped nearly 30 lbs but was given the approval to workout and return to work which, I must say felt amazing. My oncologist ordered another round of scans which were intended to be base-line scans. This means that the new scans would show me without masses in my body and would be compared to any scans in the future. Again, more bad news came from the scans.
The scans showed 8 masses in my lungs and another in my left hip which had already grown to the size of a golfball. I couldn’t believe it….I honestly thought there was no way things could get any worse but, somehow they were. We were hoping that I would be eligible for a trial that has had some success in Chondrosarcoma but unfortunately, my cancer does not have the eligible mutation. Therefore, I am left to explore other options. I am planning on starting a promising trial at the beginning of January in Denver.
So, thats where I am right now….I have to thank a couple people real quick. First, I have to thank both the Prep-School and Academy football staffs for their incredible support throughout all of this. My family has been so amazing. Whether it was flying out to help me after surgery or the countless calls and texts to check in on me. It means more than you know! My academy friends have been awesome as well. The flights out to see me, planning guys trips, and even the quick face-time…it changes my day every time. Finally, my amazing girlfriend. She will never truly know how much I appreciate her taking care of me through four (4) major surgeries, going to dozens of appointments, and keeping me motivated to get out of bed and fight everyday. I’ll never be able to explain to you how much it means to me, but I am forever thankful. I love you
I will be going to Newnan and Atlanta for Christmas and then headed to Nashville for New Year. Britt and I would love to see some of my old friends if anyone is around.
Thank you so much for the continued thoughts and prayers. Its because of you that I am able to stop complaining and asking ‘why me’ and start standing strong and saying ‘TRY ME’.
All The Best – Cars
Carson's Cancer Journey 
So sorry to hear this ! You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love Tammy
Jimmy’s Mom
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Carson I am so sorry I am praying for you ! I find it interesting that Lauren’s best friend who went to Northgate and two other kids who went to Northgate also have had the same cancer as you being that it’s so rare it makes me curious and wonder what could be the calls . I am going to ask Miss Mia Alan Abby’s Allen’s mother if there’s ever been any research on the cancer around the northgate area ?
Stay strong praying hard for you if you ever get to Alabama we live on the lake now full-time would love to see you
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Carson man i hate so much to hear whats going on!!! You have always been a leader and a role model and i know god will help you through this!! If theres anything we can do man let us know!!! We will continue to pray!!!
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Thinking of you CGB. Sending positive vibes your way.
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Hey Caraon it’s Cassys mom and I hope you don’t mind that she shared your story/blog with me but I want you to know my thoughts and prayers are with you, your beautiful GF Britt and your family… I hope in spite of what’s going on you have a Mrrry Christmas and Happy New Year… Good luck with your treatments and will continue praying for your full recovery!!! Hugs honey
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Love ya, Lil Bird!
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Very well done Cars!! We are beside you all the way. Much love to you and Brit!
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Hey Carson, I want you to know my thoughts and prayer are with you. I would like you to see the sarcoma specialist I work with when you are in Newnan if she and you are available, if you can call me I’ll do all I can 678-378-0482. Your mom was a special friend to me to the end, and you are so special to me for caring and your advise to Stephen. IM HERE FOR YOU NOW AND ALWAYS
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Hello Carson, You may not remember me, but I went to high-school with you. Anyway I just want to say… keep fighting the good fight…something I live by when things get rough…is this Bible verse I continuously say to myself is Philippians 4:13 “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” Carson, I know I dont know you that well but I know God doesn’t put us through things we cant handle….His got your back like a sweater! 😁 Keep your head up! And know I am praying for you 👼
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Well done, Carson Grady!!! You define perseverance! We are so proud of you!
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Hello Carson – you don’t know me, but I went to high school with your mom and your aunt Cindy. I’m very sorry to hear you’re facing this challenge. It sounds like you have an amazing support system to help you keep strong and positive. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
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You are an inspiring young man. You will be in my prayers daily. Your mom is a dear friend of mine and watching over you as well. Love and prayers!
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Carson,
I will definitely keep you in my prayers. Your grandparents were our good friends, role models and became surrogate “grandparents” to our children here on Hilton Head. They would light up when taking about you and talked about you often. I miss them terribly!!!
I am asking and believing God for complete healing. I pray that you find peace and joy in the midst of your circumstance and that God blesses you and Britt with the gift of hope this Christmas!
Love in Christ, Teresa Kunich
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Carson this is unreal. Thanks for writing and keeping us in the loop. Please know you are in my families thoughts and prayers, and we’re praying for a miracle. Everything happens for a reason and God has a plan even if we don’t always understand. I want you to know that when I think back on our time in high school, I always remember you as a peer I looked up to. That became even more so when you chose the USAF and then your service after academy. You’re a great guy and your legacy will live forever. Understand that what you’re going through now is what we should all be feeling daily: tomorrow isn’t guaranteed for any of us. In the meantime, keep fighting! This isn’t a new concept for you, just a different application. Keep your faith, God has a plan. And as always, remember that you’re in my prayers. You’re the man!
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Hi Carson, Heather McRae, my daughter told me of this news yesterday and I just wanted to let you know that my husband I loved watching you play ball in high school at Northgate and aways enjoyed talking to you! We kept up with you for a while afterward you graduated through friends and other parents and have watched your accomplishments. We will be praying for you and hope that you will recover completely and be as strong as ever! May you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year! Kathy and Jeff Farrow
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Carson, you’re a warrior dude keep it up!
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Praying earnestly for you, Carson! So sorry about everything you and your family are going through!
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Hey Carson,
Read these articles. I believe they will help you. There’s always been cures for 100% of cancers; however, if the gov’t and investors cannot get a piece of the pie, you don’t get to live. Study and research. Put up a good fight. Find a way to get oxygen in your body, vitamin D (stay out of Atlanta until April) and chlorophyll.
You can beat this.
http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?p=3729
http://www.ayurvedicnaturalcure.com/6-effective-natural-cures-for-bone-cancer/
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