Wilson Halloway, Tulsa Football Player Dies After Brave Battle With Lymphoma: He Was Optimistic
Posted: Thursday, February 17, 2011
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
February 17, 2011, Oklahoma City: The Huffington Post announced that a former University of Tulsa football player, Wilson Holloway died Wednesday. Don Tomkalski, a spokesman for the athletic department says the 22year –old was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in March 2008. Wednesday, he lost his battle with that disease.
Lymphoma is the name for a group of blood cancers. Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are the two main types of lymphoma.
In 2010, about 628,415 people are living with lymphoma or are in remission. This number includes about 153,535 people with Hodgkin lymphoma and about 474,880 people with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is estimated that Hodgkin lymphoma will represent 11.5 percent of all types of lymphoma diagnosed in 2010.
Lymphoma originates in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the body's immune system, which is the body's defense against infection. The marrow and lymphocytes are part of the immune system. Some other parts of the immune system are the lymph nodes, the lymphatic vessels and the spleen ( from http://www.lls.org/all_page?item_id=7085)
Wilson Holloway had Hodgkin Lymphoma. Ironically, it is one of the most curable kinds of cancer. In fact, it can be cured in 75% of the patients. It is most likely found in people in their twenties and thirties.
In January of 2009, Holloway won The Courage Award from the Football Writers Association of America. He had beat lymphomas two times in the 10 months before that and was full of optimism.
"I'm so optimistic and so upbeat, I never really let it get me down. My whole mentality on it is if I let it get to me, then it's winning," Holloway said after receiving the award.
"I just kind of went about my life and did everything I wanted to do, and didn't let it slow me down."
I am glad that Wilson Halloway fought hard with optimism. I hope his last days were peaceful. He will be missed and admired for his courage and smile.
If you would like to read more about Wilson Holloway's life or sign his guestbook, just click: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=wilson-holloway & pid=148687818
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Very good stuff about a very bad disease Fran. Something we all hate to hear, but all need to see. Nice article.
Your article is a moving tribute to Holloway, Fran. I wonder if somewhere, somehow, he's smiling at you, and saying thanks...
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