Dugan on Surviving: ‘90% Is in Your Mind’
Thursday, December 22, 2011 11:20AM
After a few weeks of chemo, he was told he'd have to have his leg amputated, and his dreams of playing baseball were shattered... until doctors gave him the option of a rare surgery. The suggested surgery, which Dugan chose to undergo, would remove the cancer and reattach the remainder of his leg… backwards.
Today, at 13, Dugan walks with the help of a prosthetic leg. He is back on the baseball field pitching and playing first base.
In this moment from Friday’s show, Dugan tells Anderson his advice for young people facing a similar situation. Take a look at this inspirational kid...
Were you inspired by Dugan’s story? Tell us about it.
Filed Under: As Seen On The Show
Comments
Dugan is a very big inspiration i know this first hand for my daughter had bone cancer and same surgery.These children go threw alot and i must say they are my HEROS i look up to them with admiration you kicked cancer in the butt!!!!!
Hi - I'm an osteosarcoma survivor too! Go Dugan! I think a lot of survival is in your mind, especially after treatment is over and you have to figure out how to "move on" in a different life (in a different body). Unfortunately, for rare cancers like osteosarcoma, the treatments are pretty brutal and do not cure 90% of people yet. I wish that they did! There is a tribute to one of the many young survivors I've met online here: http://sarcomahelp.org/tributes/logan_brasic.html You can see him playing goalie with one leg - great stuff!
You can learn about the rare cancer, Osteosarcoma, that Dugan has in the article "Osteosarcoma" by Drs. Buecker, Gebhardt, and Weber. It is available in Chinese, English and Spanish; see http://bit.ly/4NcLqq
This is a sad story I dont know how anybody could have to go through this and i never realized how quick your life can change. I watched my friend loose his leg in a car accident and couldnt play baseball for years. He was my idol playing softball growing up and I would always listen to him when he gave me tips to get better. People never looked at him the same. I love how he could get his leg fixed and could follow his dreams, he is a lucky kid! I love this story because not everyone can go through with there dreams again after that happens.
Amazing story! I also have a friend, the son of my daughter's high school volley ball coach had this same surgery when he was 5 years old in 2003 at the University of FL Hospital. We lived in GA at the time and the hospital in GA would not do this type of surgery, it was fairly new at the time. He is an amazing young man along with his family. They live in Senoia, GA, his name is Mitchell Camp and his parents are Joe and Robin Camp. Good luck to Duggan.
I just saw a feature on the Johnson family, here on my computer. I don't know how many times I have said, "God, Why couldn't you have given me 3 more inches." I have shrunk an inch in getting older and am now 4'11". I will start now to accept myself as others seem to be doing a pretty good job of it than I. Thanks for the inspiration to change lives. Agnes
I too am a bone cancer survivor. My tumor was in my tibia and was also the size o*****rapefruit! I had limb salvage surgery as well! It has been over 4 years since my surgery and I am cancer free and loving life!!! You are an awesome kid and an inspiration!
This boy reminds me of myself. I was born with a vitamin e defficiency and it's very difficult for me to walk but I can walk with a walker. I could walk freely as a child until my right ankle rolled in...now it's like I'm trying to balance and walking on my ankle. I've had a few operations on my legs that worked for a while but my ankless went back to normal. I'm getting full leg braces on Friday and I have a strong, strong feeling they'll work. Many people think that saying "I'll be doing this or feeling this or going here after I have my braces, when I can walk" is false hope. I think believing in myself is more important than what people think and Dugan just proved that. (: Love you Anderson!
Thank you for sharing this Anderson, I really needed to see this clip about the dwarf family and Dugan! I am a mother of a special needs child who is also medically fragile. We have had some rough days lately and I started pitying mysel****ain! Thanks for reminding me of others going through similar situations, it helps keep me going:)))
what a beautiful family (the smalls) and a beautiful strong boy (the child with cancer) btw I LOVE YOU ANDERSON!!! :)
A beautiful family. The love is evident in parents and child. Dugan has an attitude that is encouraging and exceptional. So glad to see a show that shares uplifting and encouraging true life stories. Let the ripples in the pond grow bigger as people embrace the love that flows in the healing of good feeling emotions. You go Dugan, all the best.
I'm so proud of you, watching this here tears filled my eyes, and I can imaging how parents should feel, having a positive look on life and how he think,looking at him and the way he talk and his smile, you can tell that a such a wonderful son to have by any parents, it's amazing, some of adults should practice the words that he mentioned,("90% is in your mind") and need to learn how to look at life, everything can be change in a second or blink of a eye... but you have to move on... think positive, you are a great child, may you have the successful life and a bright future son!
This is the kind of child every parent dreams of. What an
amazing attitude wise beyond his years. May all of your
dreams come true Dugan. I have no doubt you will achieve
great things. I don't even know you and I'm proud of you.
.
Back in 1978, my brother, at the age of 12, had the same exact surgery for the same reason....At the time, it was only the 2nd time this surgery was performed. It was so surreal watching today's segment. It was done at Children's Hospital in Boston by Dr Watts. Unfortunately, my brother only lived another 6 months as the cancer spread and chemo was not successful. In the past, I've tried to explain to my children, ages 11 and 9, what the actual surgery involved. It was hard for them to visualize the concept. This is the first time since then, that I have ever seen this type of surgery ever mentioned again. Now my kids understand what their uncle went through. I'm glad to see that this young man is doing so well as it gives me some comfort to know that my brother was sort of a pioneer in this endeavor. Keep up the great work Dugan!!! Rob Silver
Back in 1978, my brother, at the age of 12, had the same exact surgery for the same reason....At the time, it was only the 2nd time this surgery was performed. It was so surreal watching today's segment. It was done at Children's Hospital in Boston by Dr Watts. Unfortunately, my brother only lived another 6 months as the cancer spread and chemo was not successful. In the past, I've tried to explain to my children, ages 11 and 9, what the actual surgery involved. It was hard for them to visualize the concept. This is the first time since then, that I have ever seen this type of surgery ever mentioned again. Now my kids understand what their uncle went through. I'm glad to see that this young man is doing so well as it gives me some comfort to know that my brother was sort of a pioneer in this endeavor. Keep up the great work Dugan!!! Rob Silver