Galen Patrick Duncan Cook

Silicon Valley & Monterey Bay Area Chapter Honoree

Age: 13 years
Birthday: July 18, 1995
Parents: Ruth Duncan and Robert Cook
Type of illness: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL-standard risk)
Diagnosed: May 1998

Galen was diagnosed with ALL when he was two years ten months old. He underwent 38 months of chemotherapy which ended in July of 2001.

He just past his seventh year anniversary out of chemotherapy. His long term prognosis is still very good although we are not suppose to use the word "cured".

We took Galen to the doctor in May '98 because he just didn't seem well, and couldn't tell us what was wrong. He'd been sick off and on for a few weeks and seemed to cry a lot more than usual. We were busy packing for a Memorial Day trip, when we realized Galen had been lying on the couch, listless and cranky all morning. Worried about taking a sick child on a trip, we called the doctor and got an appointment that afternoon. Blood and lab test results were not good, and by 7:30 pm we were sent to Kaiser, San Francisco where Galen underwent a bone marrow biopsy, given initial chemotherapy drugs, and had surgery to insert a central line catheter in his chest. His marrow was almost completely replaced with cancerous immature white cells, but luckily there were no signs of them in his spinal fluid. That meant that the treatment would not have to include radiation. The catheter is how he received intravenous medicine and how blood was drawn for testing. He was hospitalized for four days. The shock of finding out our baby had this life threatening disease cannot be described. Thankfully, we did go into a kind of shock and spent most of our energy trying to act normal for Galen's sake and studying all the information the doctors kept giving us.

Galen pretty much took all the medication and doctors appointments in stride, although for a while when he was around 3 or 3 1/2, he really started protesting the shots. He didn't much care for the Broviac catheter. It was pretty scary for him to have a tube sticking out of his chest. Because of persistent (and scary) infections, it was replaced in the spring of 1999, with a subcutaneous port for his intravenous injections. The port was removed after he ended chemo. Another serious complication he suffered was an allergic reaction to the drug Septra, which caused something called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Galen had mouth and wrist lesions, but in severe cases patients can appear to be burned all over their bodies. He also had pneumonia three times during his course of treatment.

Galen is in the eighth grade now. He loves the water and has a grand time when we go anywhere with a pool, ocean or lake. He also loves camping which usually involves running around with friends and roasting marshmallows. He has gone through Cub Scouts and is now a Boy Scout (he has earned his Swimming, Archery, Rifle, First Aid, Fish and Wildlife, and Leatherwork merit badges). He likes the piano (although he hates to practice). He is learning the French Horn and is in the Concert Band in Junior High.

Galen has been involved with Team In Training since Fall of 1998. He thinks of Team In Training as part of his family. He's handed out gallons of water and Gatorade and played with and taken pictures with many wonderful participants. He knows how important it is to fundraise for LLS. He's contributed close to $100 to Pennies for Patients out of his own money at his school.

We look forward to meeting you and congratulate you on your commitment to finding a cure and running a marathon.

Updated January 2009