September 11 is a bittersweet day of remembrance for Eastern Michigan University student Andrew Samuels — not only because of the tragic events that took place that day, but because of a more personal loss — his left leg.
Samuel, a 23-year-old junior majoring in engineering physics, had his leg amputated as a last-ditch effort to eradicate the osteosarcoma that began in his
left femur.
“I was ten years old when I found out I had cancer,” Samuels said. “I was diagnosed at Mott Children’s Hospital by doctors from the University of Michigan.”
Samuels, a warm, outgoing and physically-active ten-year-old, was overwhelmed most by the desolate reality of being condemned to a hospital bed for the last remaining years of his childhood.
“I didn’t really understand what cancer was at first, but I understood that I was going to have to stay in the hospital for a very long time,” Samuels said.
“It wasn’t so much the fact that I realized that I could actually die at some point in my life. It was more that this was going to completely transform my life to the extent that I couldn’t be the kid that I wanted to be. I just wanted to be a normal kid. I was at school, I had all kinds of friends, I wanted to run around, I wanted to play sports, but I had to grow up. Week after week in a hospital bed, a large part of my childhood was gone.”
Samuels’ grueling struggle with cancer continued for four years. At first, doctors didn’t think amputation would be necessary.
“They tried what’s called ‘limb salvage,’” Samuels said. “They took out the femur and replaced it with a metal one. I had that for a while, and I was still on two legs. But the cancer came back two years later. Not only it had spread upward, but it was in my lungs as well.”
Samuels was 12 when the doctors informed him the cancer had returned, had spread and that amputating his leg was now the best way to combat the cancer. Yet somehow, at an age when most adolescents are playing video games, obsessing over acne and nursing quiet infatuation, he received the news without flinching.
“I was cool with it,” Samuels said. “That was about two years into my cancer battle, so I was pretty battle-hardened by then. At that point I had the perspective, ‘Let’s just do what it takes to get this done. Bring it on.’ I was talking with my doctors and I told them, ‘If this is what you guys think is the best route to go and the best way to end this right now, then let’s do it.’“
Amputating his leg proved to be a prudent decision. Samuels ultimately won the war and has been cancer-free for a decade. His last surgery was Sept. 11, 2001.
“We were walking through the hospital and everybody was standing around looking at the TV,” Samuels said. “Obviously, the planes had hit the towers. My doctor was watching as well in the lobby. It was really impressive. He said, ‘Andrew, we’re not going to worry about what’s going on right now. We’re going to focus on you.’ So he turned off the television and he said, ‘This is our day. We’re going to get you fixed up.’ I was really impressed by that, and I’ll always have respect for UM doctors.”
Victory over cancer has had a profound effect on Samuels’ outlook on life.
“Through my experience, I developed the perspective that I don’t believe in giving up on anything,” Samuels said. “No matter what adversity you’re facing, why would you ever give up? The moment you give up, the chance of your succeeding is zero. Even if the chance of succeeding is so very small, there’s still that chance. So you take the shot. No matter what.”
This fierce practical optimism ultimately played a large role in Samuels’ decision to resume his education by enrolling at Eastern Michigan University.
“I used to think I could never ever do math and physics,” Samuels said. “I was terrible at it in high school, but it was because I didn’t think I could do it.
“After I graduated, I started my own Internet marketing company. I did that for two years, made a little money, and I thought, ‘If I can run a business and be somewhat successful at it, what else can I do? What can’t I do?’ So I came back to school. Again, I was just challenging all of my previous roadblocks that I thought were roadblocks but really weren’t, and realizing that even if they were, I could jump over them.”
One can’t help but feel impressed by Samuels. For someone who never considered himself to be proficient at math or physics, he’s made tremendous accomplishments.
He’s currently researching space weather in Earth’s upper atmosphere for Dr. David Pawloski. As if that isn’t impressive enough, Samuels hopes to use his degree to further the technology to provide people with comfortable and affordable robotic prosthetics.
“I have a prosthetic,” Samuels said. “However, the technology right now for people who are amputated at the hip is not good. It’s really uncomfortable and they’re really heavy and cumbersome. The computerized ones are starting to take off, but they’re very expensive and most insurance companies won’t even pay for them. Part of the reason I’m in engineering physics is that, if I have that sort of background, maybe I can build my own.”
Samuels’ ability to persevere through life’s most daunting tribulations with a smile and his head held high is something to revere. Perhaps most admirable of all is his eagerness to give back to the hospital that saved his life.
“I volunteer there now on Thursday nights,” Samuels said.
“The UM athletes come up for a program called Michigan From the Heart. Along with the Thursday night visits to Mott Children’s Hospital, the program also organizes trips to take the kids to the games and setup meetings between them and the players afterwards, so they can get autographs and photos. It’s a really cool thing to be a part of and I get to share my experience with kids who have the same type of cancer I had.
“It took me awhile to be convinced to ever go back to the hospital. After my treatment, spending four or five years there, why would I want to go back? But I realized I had a lot to share and I thought I could make someone else’s experience a little better by sharing mine with them.”
Samuels is truly an inspiration, like a prize-fighting boxer swinging until he collapses.
“I feel like if there’s that chance, you should take it,” he said. “I mean it’s life and death. Quite literally in my experience.”
