CoopStrong

CoopStrong. A motto used by senior Cooper Harrison representing taking the hits of life, staying humble and fighting through adversity.

At the age of seven, at Maryville University’s soccer camp, Cooper began to experience cramping in his thigh. It appeared to just be a pulled muscle, but what started off as a leg cramp turned into night sweats, fevers and chills that lasted for a week. No matter what the treatment was, the fever persisted.

Cooper was taken to St. Luke’s hospital where doctors began testing. After multiple blood tests, doctors were unable to determine what was wrong with him, and he was sent to Children’s Hospital to be tested again.

After a month passed, doctors told Cooper that he had leukemia.

“I was wondering if I was going to die, because I didn’t know what was going on, but it sounded really bad. And you’re just wondering ‘Is this how it’s going to end?’ ‘Am I going to die at the age of seven?’” Cooper said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, leukemia is a form of cancer that involves the body’s blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Leukemia creates abnormal functioning white blood cells, which are the body’s natural infection fighters.

Cooper began chemotherapy every two months and had to get his blood drawn every week. Treatment also included bone marrow biopsies. As chemotherapy progressed, he had to take a myriad of medications including multi-vitamins due to a lack of appetite.

A battle of will and survival also became a battle of wants versus needs.

When sitting in a hospital room, nurses brought out syringes with needles that were around four inches long. Cooper began to scream saying that he wanted to go home.

“And that’s when my mom told me ‘Cooper, if you go home you’re going to die.’ That was like a light bulb that went off in my head that it’s not really what I want, it’s what I need, and I need to live,” Cooper said.

The fight against leukemia affected every aspect of his life including one of his main loves.

“Sports were never the same for me,” Cooper said.

Cooper began to get winded very easily and was unable to participate in the sports he loved, basketball and baseball, as much as he used to. Due to leukemia, he missed an entire season of baseball and most of his basketball season.

Many basic everyday activities became too much for Cooper. He would become tired during the school day and would have to take naps just to regain enough energy to function during the day.

After five years of chemotherapy, Cooper received his last treatment in December of 2009 at the age of 12 and was officially declared in remission.

Through his fight, Cooper now takes advantage of all of the opportunities he gets. Now standing 5’10″ 190 lbs, he is a defensive back as well as captain of the varsity football team and plans to play in college. Drake University, University of Indianapolis and Benedictine College have expressed interest in Cooper.

“The first thing that comes to mind is hard worker. He only knows one speed, and that’s as fast as he can go,” varsity football Head Coach Pat Mahoney said.

According to Coach Mahoney, Cooper’s hard work has propelled him to higher level that has boosted his strength and speed.

“I play for kids who can’t play,” Cooper said. “There are a lot of kids who can’t play because of cancer or deadly diseases or whatever else challenges them…They should have a guy who can fight through it and play for them and give it back to them because they deserve it,” Cooper said.

Cooper became an Honored Hero, a person that gives not only inspiration and hope, but also raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He also works with Team in Training, a marathon group that raises money for cancer.

“I will play every play like it’s my last, because I may have never gotten the opportunity to play the sport,” Cooper said.

Cooper receives checkups about every two years and is still in remission.