Longtime survivor Kraig Kuusinen shared his sarcoma story during Party in the Park. Diagnosed in 1986, Kraig is now 38 YEARS cancer free from sarcoma! Thank you Kraig for your support and for inspiring others!
Kraig has kindly shared his script from Party in the Park to reach others impacted by sarcoma and to raise awareness.
“Good evening, everyone. My name is Kraig Kuusinen and I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MN. I am a 2 – time Osteo Sarcoma survivor for more than 37 years. I hope you are all having a great time tonight.
In December 0f 1985, I had some pain in my left leg. I got cortisone shots and tried physical therapy but it did not work.
In the spring quarter of 1986, I was a student at the University of Minnesota. My leg still hurt so I went to the Boynton Health Services. They X-Rayed my leg and found a mass on my left fibula. They scheduled to have a biopsy the next day and discovered the Osteo Sarcoma tumor on April 3rd, 1986. It was then I met my pediatric oncologist Dr. Marie Steiner and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Roby Thompson. The staff discussed the treatment and anti-nausea medication between THC and Ativan with my parents and me. Naturally, I choose THC!
I was diagnosed as a pediatric and shared a 4 bedroom room, bathroom and another 4 bedroom room with 7 other patients who were all under 10. One was from my home town of Grand Rapids. That was a great help for my parents. I knew right then that I would survive for me and them. I never once thought that I would not beat this cancer.
I initially had high- dose methotrexate and had a reaction that they had not seen before and the THC did not have any effect. They decided to try again and give me some steroids. I still had the same reaction but this time I got really high!
The staff changed my chemo course and I had out-patient chemo and took the THC. I went to class after and then got really sick. I made it back to the clinic where they started me on Ativan. I had chemo into May, it killed the tumor and had it removed the day after my last final. I had chemotherapy once a month through December and at times I got cold sores down my throat so it was painful to swallow. They tested my internal organs for 3 months and decided to stop giving me chemotherapy in March as my body was too toxic.
In the summer of 1987, I noticed shaking on my right side. When I got down to the U of MN that fall, I went to see Dr. Steiner. She scheduled an MRI and it showed that Osteo Sarcoma had metastasized into the left part of the brain. I had it removed quickly and underwent the most radiation that they allowed. I went to games 6 & 7 of the Twins World Series after getting out of the hospital.
After about two years, I had another checkup with Dr. Thompson. He said that people who have Osteo Sarcoma metastasize to your brain do not live this long and I do not have to take any more tests. I was still young and did not think much about what he said. Over the years though, I wondered what he meant by me being a survivor when no one else was.
On April 3rd, 2006 (20-year anniversary), I called Dr. Marie Steiner and asked her if she remembered what happened 20 years ago. Of course, she did not and we remembered a few other things from that time. I also asked her what Dr. Thompson meant when he said that. She said that no one before me and no one since me has survived that happening. I almost dropped the phone.
I had already been volunteering for Rein In Sarcoma, but now I decided to become a dedicated volunteer. I took over the luminaries when the person who started it left. I have bought everything for making of the luminaries including the canopy and tables. Over all the 24 years of this event, I have donated and solicited around $8000 for the silent auction.
I would like to thank all the staff and nurses for treating me with their best care and the doctors for getting me through this ordeal. But most of all, I want to thank my parents for coming down for all the chemo treatments and surgeries and being the best caregivers anyone could hope for!
Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you throughout your journey!
Have a Good night and Be Kind!”