I Can’t Even Describe How it Felt

Maria Drews, DPT, (Health Professions, ’18) walked into the living room and noticed swelling in the right temple of her 9-monthold son, Lucas. Of course, she took him to his pediatrician and was told to observe it for any changes.

The swelling grew worse so Lucas underwent an MRI. The doctors discovered the mass was retreating from the outer edge of the skull toward the brain — Lucas’ pediatrician wanted him to be admitted overnight for monitoring. While Maria fills out the admission paperwork, she sees a wall of doctors coming into Lucas’ room, one of them mentioning leukemia.

Another MRI was ordered with an oncologist confirming the diagnosis on May 1, 2019. Lucas had acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M7) — a rare form of leukemia most commonly found in children with Down syndrome. The mass on his head that originally caught Maria’s attention was a chloroma: a collection of leukemic cells occurring outside the bone marrow.

Lucas’ diagnosis naturally put the brakes on some of Maria’s plans. She had completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with TTUHSC in December 2018 with plans to participate in the May 2019 graduation. She called her adviser to explain why she wouldn’t be at the graduation ceremony, and then thought nothing more about it as she juggled her full-time job and Lucas’ chemotherapy appointments. Then something unexpected happened.

A few weeks later, Maria receives an email from gift officer Cliff Wilkes asking if the School of Health Professions could bring the graduation to her. “I just didn’t understand — it was so amazing,” she recalled. When Maria saw Dean Lori Rice-Spearman, PhD, (Biomedical Sciences ’86) — now TTUHSC interim president, provost and chief academic officer — coming toward her with regalia and a diploma, the emotion overwhelmed her. In the hallway of her workplace, Maria received her diploma. “My journey, my education, my baby boy’s survival was important to my school … I can’t even describe how that felt, not only to me but also to my friends, family and co-workers. I mean, who does that?”

Maria Drews, DPT, wasn’t able to attend her graduation after her son was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia — so the school brought the graduation to her.

Lucas received a bone marrow transplant on Oct. 17, 2019, and has check-ups twice a week.