Brown celebrates being chemo-free

TOP PHOTO: The banner says it all.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – “No more pill bottle lining the kitchen counter. No more Wednesday nights of 16 rounds of medication, and the best part is that there’s no more port for chemotherapy,” said David Brown, Dalton Brown’s father. That said was more than enough reason to celebrate, and celebrate the Brown family and friends did on Saturday night at the Ball Farm Event Center, because Dalton Brown finished his final round of chemo last week.

As a high school senior, with his entire life ahead, Dalton won his nearly two-and-a-half-year battle with Leukemia. “Now all he’ll be doing is labs once a month, and as soon as he heals from having his port removed, life will start to be more like it was in early 2020,” said David Brown.

Dalton’s journey had more than its share of peaks and valleys since the spring of 2020 when APRN Kayla Ward, now Dr. Ward, at the Brown’s Cumberland Gap Medical, first discovered the Leukemia. “We were devastated and scared to death at the discovery, though God’s unfailing love and your support, he’s here tonight, brought us through,” said Amanda Brown, Dalton’s mother.

Aside from a couple of big set backs, there were some memorable moments while Dalton was whipping Leukemia. He was a part of ESPN Gameday at Neyland Stadium and became friends with Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow. The Dream Connection made a wish of visiting Disney World come true, and just to know how much a community loves and supports him is also quite the memory.

In May 2020, Dalton’s birthday was quietly celebrated on a Friday. Little did he know what was ahead on Saturday; a birthday celebration parade that drove up his street and past his house. More than 70 vehicles paraded past as he sat under a tent in his front yard totally blown away. “It was the best birthday ever, and I have Leukemia,” said Dalton.

“Over the past two and a half years, we’ve learned the people who love Dalton. We’ve been so blessed to have all of you prayer warriors. I knew this wasn’t in our hands. It was in God’s hands,” said Amanda Brown.

Amanda Brown also expressed her thankfulness for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for being so close to home, for MEDIC and the blood donors, too, especially the O-negative donors. “God is powerful, mighty,” said Amanda Brown.

Maybe the strong cravings for blue gill, sour candies, pinto beans and spaghetti will ease up some now that chemo is over. Even those those are some good eats, that, too, is worth celebrating. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/29/2022-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLTON EVANS)