Growing up a teenager with worries about how much hair is left on your head and how much energy you would have the next day is an experience most cancer patients have. For Eric Babbitt í10, this was just the beginning of the biggest obstacle he would ever face.
Babbitt, a two-time cancer survivor, is a prominent member of Woosterís swimming and diving program and one of the most assiduous students on the campus. A senior business economics major from Orange County, Calif., he was the chairman for Campus Council during the 2008-2009 school year. The first time Babbitt had cancer, he was only a toddler. While celebrating his second birthday he had gotten sick. His father felt his stomach area and a mysterious lump was found. Babbitt went to the hospital and the doctors examined him. He had hepatic sarcoma, a type of liver cancer.
The second time Babbitt found out he had cancer, he had been feeling sick prior to being taken to the hospital. Unrelated tests that were ran on him found colon cancer.
The first cancer was removed in September 1989 and the second was removed in March 2002. Surgery and chemotherapy were the methods of removal. The initial removal of both cancers had follow-up operations.
Being in and out of the hospital was very stressful. ìThe first time it was like nothing because I donít remember anything. The second time was bad because it happened when I was only 14 years old. I was a teen,” said Babbitt. ìI was swimming at the time and I didnít understand what I was doing. I was so unmotivated and unappreciative.”
Being so young and being told you cannot engage in your favorite activity will dampen anyoneís spirit. When Babbitt had the second removal and treatments, they first told him that he wouldnít be able to swim for two months and that he would be hospitalized for a week. ìI didnít know what that meant. I woke up from operation in excruciating pain. It wasnít anything I had anticipated,” explained Babbitt.
While being hospitalized for another week, he didnít realize how physically debilitating it would be. The treatments caused him to lose weight, on his an already thin frame. He was also at the peak of his swimming performance. ìI saw people that I originally raced while growing up that were way better than me. It wasnít until I got past the frustration and got in the right mindset, that I knew I was given a second chance,” said Babbitt.
ìIt had changed my motivation and perspective on life. I then realized that swimming and life were not about going through the motions,” he said. While at the hospital after the second cancer removal, he was put in a room with another cancer patient to recuperate. He thought his chemotherapy was mild compared to others after he saw the other patient. ìThe drugs wreck the body. People lose their hair. As unfortunate my experience was, it was really a fortunate experience because it was a second chance,” said Babbitt.
After leaving the hospital, he lost 15 to 20 pounds. He got back in the pool and started training, but didnít feel as good as before. A CAT scan was done six months after the second initial operation. ìThe doctors had found spots in my liver again and it was a very scary time, so we thought something had returned in my liver,” said Babbitt.
In hopes that he did not have cancer again, a biopsy was done on the spot in the liver. The results came back ëbenign.í To have the most accurate results, the chosen method was not needle biopsy, but an operation to cut the spot open. ìThe incision got infected, so I had to have another operation. It was frustrating but things were getting put into perspective simultaneously,” said Babbitt. ì I had to start over in a way. Motivation causes you or gives you an opportunity so that you could try again. I asked myself, ëWhat if I did make a swimming comeback from this?í”
It is one thing to be a good swimmer and another thing to be a good swimmer and experience what Babbitt has experienced. ìI started at the top, fell to the bottom and made my way back again,” he said.
When bad things happen, especially ones out of our control, it is hard to remain positive. Babbitt explains that he wasnít positive the whole time. ìI had my good days to be back, but I also got bummed out that I had to start over again. The most frustrating time was right after the surgery. I was not ready for physical activity yet. I was in excruciating pain. The operation wreaked havoc,” said Babbitt. ìI remember looking out the window and thinking, ëIs this worth it?í I thought that I wanted to die at that time. I didnít feel good and I was in the hospital for a really long time.”
Thanks to family and friends, Babbitt was able to overcome this unfortunate time. He had family members visit every day. ìThey were very helpful with the recovery process. My principal and high schoolís chaplain helped by coming to the hospital to check on me regularly,” he said.
Babbitt was able to share his story in ìChicken Soup for the Soul: Extraordinary Teens,” published just last month. It all stemmed from The Orange County Register, one of the local newspapers. They wrote a swimming article about him and his cancer survival. Someone had gotten a hold of that story and forwarded it to the publisher of the book.
In asking what Babbitt would say to people who may be experiencing similar issues, he answered, ìI would say to them, if you look hard enough and you put your mind in the right situation, anything can be made easier. I can attest to that.”
He continued saying, ìI would say not to be worried about any similar situations that may be hindering you from your accomplishments. A lot of athletes who succeed have a natural talent. It is such a clichÈ statement, but if I can do it, then you can do it too. I had no natural talent, but I had the motivation to succeed. I just had the drive to push myself. So if I can do it, then you can too.”