MORE TO THIS DON THAN MEETS THE EYE

SOPHOMORE PERSEVERES DESPITE CHALLENGES

By Ava Lomahan '24

Alex Polifka is a sophomore at Cathedral Catholic who has similar interests and hobbies to his peers. He enjoys playing video games, watching suspenseful movies and hanging out with his friends. Alex loves eighties music and is a Boy Scout who enjoys camping, hiking and being outdoors. He hopes to become an Eagle Scout soon. One of Alex’s favorite classes is Spanish, where he loves to challenge himself as he learns a new language. There is much more to Alex, however, than just a typical sophomore boy at Cathedral Catholic.

Instead of celebrating the joys of New Year’s, on December 31, 2020, Alex was in the Emergency Room getting tested. He was diagnosed with cancer later that day at the age of fourteen. “It was the worst day of my life,” he says. Alex has an exceptionally rare type of cancer called Synovial Sarcoma, which is where spindle cell tumors develop in soft tissue. For Alex, the cancer started in his face and spread to both his lungs. He was told by his doctors that less than 20 cases of facial Synovial Sarcoma had ever been cataloged in children, as the majority of cases are in adults. This meant that Alex and his family had to deal with the nightmares of the unknown. When Alex was given the news that he had cancer, he felt an assortment of emotions: shock, surprise, anger, confusion, etc. Yet, it was fear that struck him the most. “It was the first time I thought about death,” he explained. This was just the beginning of his long journey.

Cancer has changed Alex’s life and that of his family entirely. The hospital became like a second home to Alex. He was admitted to receive chemotherapy and radiation and in the past few years has undergone a total of seven surgeries and many MRIs and CT scans. Alex continues to undergo routine physical examinations, medical tests and imaging tests, and he now takes a pill for his chemotherapy, all while still being enrolled in school. Alex experiences many side effects from these treatments and has a weaker immunity because of them. These impact his everyday life as a student. His weak immunity hinders his ability to play sports, which is a huge part of the high school experience, especially at Cathedral Catholic. Due to the treatment side effects, Alex also has skin toxicity which results in inflammation, blisters and sores on the bottom of his feet. “I feel like I am walking on shattered glass and hot coals,” he explains. All in all, Alex does not have the privilege of enjoying his youth like a typical high schooler does, but he doesn't let his cancer dictate how he lives.

A huge part of Alex’s life is his faith. He began to turn to God for wisdom and a sense of direction for his life after being diagnosed with cancer. His faith has been a significant source of motivation and support, especially at times when he is uncertain of what is to come. Alex strives to live life to the fullest and to stay as positive as he can. While he does not understand the reasoning behind his suffering, Alex knows that God is in control and has a plan for each and every one of us. “I know that it is not me who is in charge, but it is me who decides how to live with cancer,” he explains. “Even though I don’t understand it, God has a purpose for my life.” Ultimately, without his trust in God, Alex could not imagine going through his cancer treatments. In addition to his faith, Alex also credits the Cathedral Catholic community with being a great source of support.

Alex has thrived ever since joining the Cathedral Catholic community, to which he states, “My favorite part about attending Cathedral Catholic is that I forget about my life with cancer and live a normal life.” Some of his favorite things about Cathedral Catholic are being able to meet new people, learn new topics, hang out with friends and engage in his faith life. Alex is involved in the Dons for Life club and also recently became a student manager for the Varsity Rugby Team. The Cathedral Catholic community supports him through the power of prayer, which is important during this time of battling cancer. Alex is grateful for these prayers and is also appreciative of his understanding teachers who give him flexibility with assignments when he needs to miss school for appointments. As a Don, Alex has grown to understand the importance of positivity and hopefulness. With all of the support he has received, Alex recognizes the beauty of life and encourages his classmates to wake up every day feeling grateful so that everyone can start their day off with happiness. Alex encourages his classmates “...to not take life for granted and to cherish every moment like it’s your last.”

Coach Xavier Ulutu '14 runs drills with Alex's assistance at rugby practice

Alex gives a presentation in his favorite class, Ms. Adourian's English class.