Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Robin met Caleb in 2018 while Robin was working for the American Cancer Society — a detail that would become almost unbearably ironic seven years later. In May, Caleb started feeling off: pressure in his head, a strange purple tint to his ear, symptoms urgent care mistook for a sinus infection three separate times. Then an ER visit revealed a massive mass in his chest.
Five weeks after his T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma diagnosis — after emergency surgery, a life flight to UAB, and organ failure that doctors couldn't reverse — Caleb was gone at 35. Robin shares what those five weeks were like from inside the ICU, the decision she had to make alone, and the perspective she's carrying forward for their two young sons.
Thank you, Robin, for sharing your story to help others.
#cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #cancertreatment #cancerprevention #cancersymptoms
The Patient Story:
The Patient Story is led by a dedicated team of medical, editorial, and video experts, committed to authentically portraying the cancer patient experience. Sharing your story holds transformative power, culturally and personally. We handle each narrative with utmost care, compassion, and scientific rigor.
Our editorial process adheres to the highest journalistic standards, ensuring medically researched, vetted, and fact-checked content. Backed by experienced medical professionals, we offer insights into the latest medical advancements.
Beyond patient narratives, we provide comprehensive coverage of cancer news and medical resources. From symptoms to clinical trials, insurance, finances, and support groups, we offer guidance in a humanized manner.
Chapters:
0:00 – "We Believe You Have Lymphoma": The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
0:39 – Misdiagnosed: Mistaken for a Sinus Infection
1:23 – Symptoms Worsen During a Family Trip to California
2:04 – Red Flags: Swollen Lymph Nodes and a Purple Ear
3:41 – The Decision to Finally Go to the ER
4:19 – ER Bombshell: "You Have a Massive Mass in Your Chest"
5:07 – Superior Vena Cava Syndrome & Emergency Surgery
7:46 – Life-Flighted to UAB Hospital for Critical Care
8:03 – Diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma/Leukemia
9:09 – Five Weeks Fighting in the Cancer ICU
11:36 – A Devastating Prognosis & Choosing Palliative Care
14:11 – Life After Loss: Grief, Faith, and Raising Two Toddlers Alone
Join Our Community:
Sign up for our FREE website: thepatientstory.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thepatientstory
Instagram: instagram.com/thepatientstory
Twitter: twitter.com/Patient_Story
TikTok: tiktok.com/@patientstory
To watch more care partner stories, click here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_-dE9R0W4qgBwwtOAGXnUOhIaORymM8
Robin met Caleb in 2018 while Robin was working for the American Cancer Society — a detail that would become almost unbearably ironic seven years later. In May, Caleb started feeling off: pressure in his head, a strange purple tint to his ear, symptoms urgent care mistook for a sinus infection three separate times. Then an ER visit revealed a massive mass in his chest.
Five weeks after his T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma diagnosis — after emergency surgery, a life flight to UAB, and organ failure that doctors couldn't reverse — Caleb was gone at 35. Robin shares what those five weeks were like from inside the ICU, the decision she had to make alone, and the perspective she's carrying forward for their two young sons.
Thank you, Robin, for sharing your story to help others.
#cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #cancertreatment #cancerprevention #cancersymptoms
The Patient Story:
The Patient Story is led by a dedicated team of medical, editorial, and video experts, committed to authentically portraying the cancer patient experience. Sharing your story holds transformative power, culturally and personally. We handle each narrative with utmost care, compassion, and scientific rigor.
Our editorial process adheres to the highest journalistic standards, ensuring medically researched, vetted, and fact-checked content. Backed by experienced medical professionals, we offer insights into the latest medical advancements.
Beyond patient narratives, we provide comprehensive coverage of cancer news and medical resources. From symptoms to clinical trials, insurance, finances, and support groups, we offer guidance in a humanized manner.
Chapters:
0:00 – "We Believe You Have Lymphoma": The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
0:39 – Misdiagnosed: Mistaken for a Sinus Infection
1:23 – Symptoms Worsen During a Family Trip to California
2:04 – Red Flags: Swollen Lymph Nodes and a Purple Ear
3:41 – The Decision to Finally Go to the ER
4:19 – ER Bombshell: "You Have a Massive Mass in Your Chest"
5:07 – Superior Vena Cava Syndrome & Emergency Surgery
7:46 – Life-Flighted to UAB Hospital for Critical Care
8:03 – Diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma/Leukemia
9:09 – Five Weeks Fighting in the Cancer ICU
11:36 – A Devastating Prognosis & Choosing Palliative Care
14:11 – Life After Loss: Grief, Faith, and Raising Two Toddlers Alone
Join Our Community:
Sign up for our FREE website: thepatientstory.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thepatientstory
Instagram: instagram.com/thepatientstory
Twitter: twitter.com/Patient_Story
TikTok: tiktok.com/@patientstory
To watch more care partner stories, click here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_-dE9R0W4qgBwwtOAGXnUOhIaORymM8
