Kansas Wrestling
(I wrote this early Friday morning...but had to leave...I will update everyone)

Dear Wrestling Community/Family,

I know you all haven't heard from me in a while on this website, so the following information about me may catch you off guard, rest assured...It caught me off guard and we are moving fast to get well. Here is what happend:

I went into a local free clinic for those people that don't have a lot of money do to the lack of funds/ability to work on Friday, April 2nd and was immediantly sent to the hospital on a referal for blood tests and two chest xrays when the doctor realized how swollen my lymph nodes were along with the amount of weight that I had lost in the last month and a half. (40lbs)

The following Friday my results had come back on the blood but not on the Xrays...apparently they were misplaced and sent to a doctor in Manhattan, KS (I'm seen in Junction City) and the search was on for the Xrays. Finally, earlier this week on Wednesday when I got home from visiting family in Kansas City, MO I was greeted with the messages on my phone to call the Surgical Staff at the Hospital and my clinic doctor as well on his cell phone.

They had finally got the Xrays, and in the words of the nurse the staff was very much concerned and I was booked for a 1:15 pm consultation (for Thursday) at the Medical Arts facility in the Hospital. I went in for the medical analysis at the hospital with my mom there to help give medical history...but the doctor showed us the xray and the concern was quickly pointed out with a large football length tumor growing inside of me on my heart side, and also a smaller one about the size of a raquet ball on my right side. He then told me that the diagnosis him and his colleagues have come up with is Lymphoma Cancer.

Immediantly they brought in papers and said they needed to do some more tests a.s.a.p. So this morning (Friday) I'm scheduled for a 7:45 consultation with Outpatient Surgery...after the consult I have an appointment scheduled for 8:30 am to have a neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvic CAT SCAN done. Upon the completion of that it will be back to the Outpatient Surgery area to be squeezed in to a busy schedule for a node removal from the subclavicular area on my right side.

The node will be sent to Nebraska for type diagnosis to figure out what type of Lymphoma Cancer I have. There is already talk that because of how agressive this cancer has been in such a short time...I may undergo radiation and chemo starting as early as next week sometime.

This is a scarey time for me...my emotions have been up and down since yesterday's diagnosis and request that everyone keep me in their thoughts and prayers. I told my aunt in a teary conversation that I thought about wearing my wrestling shoes to all my doc visits and treatments...that way it's a personal statement that I'm not going down without a fight.

It's easier said than done to stay positive right about now, but with the help of friends and family I'll overcome it.

Everyone take care and God Bless.


Yours in Wrestling,

The Swayz
Aaron my heart goes out to you, my father had leukemia and the crap I saw him go through really sucked, but you are young and I think things will work out for you,

Get well buddy!
Sweazy, im really sorry to hear that. Even though i don't know you outside this forum, it really hurts to know about your condition. I really hope everything works out for you and that you get well soon.
Aaron, I will hold you up in my prayers. I do not know you but I know wrestlers. You will fight this and beat it. God Bless
Aaron this is the recipe for whipping your ailment:

First of all you got circle to the center and setup the low single, a devastating first blow.

After taking your opponent to the mat heavy hip pressure, place your chin in the middle of his back and make him squeal for mercy… the ref should stop it here but we want to punish him a little bit longer. Physicality baby!

Now for the finally, a hard arm lever to the side with a big step, figure four the head and pin that sucker. MATCH OVER!

Your going to finish this in the first period, Mr. Lymphoma doesn’t have a chance because you are a warrior! God bless you my man, keep us informed.

Hang tough and best wishes,

Mark Miller
Manhattan Wrestling
Aaron, you know I will keep you in my prayers and tomorrow at church I think I'm going to even have a special prayer time for you. If there is anything I can do to help, and I mean anything, let me know and I'll hop in the mustang and see what she does between here and there. You have my email and all, don't be afraid to use it. To the rest of the wrestling community, this is one of those times that religion certainly does mix in with wrestling, we have a brother needing our prayers, let us offer them up.
Aaron i'm not a deeply religous person but what is going on with you has actually made me think about things and how i'm not connected with god as much as i want to be. I will hold you in my prayers and wish you the best of luck my friend.
Aaron:

We may not always seem like it, but the Kansas wrestling community is a family, and you are a strong member of that family. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family and as Mark said — PIN THAT SUCKER!!!

Peace,
Jeff Holmes
Atchison High School
Aaron,

Most of the people reading this forum are not aware of this, but you had volunteered to write a review of the 2003-04 collegiate wrestling season for publication on this website and in our year-end report. Knowing your dedication and love for the sport, I was concerned when the report was not completed shortly after the conclusion of the season, so I contacted you to see what was up. It was at that time that you told me about your weight loss, and some preliminary tests that were causing some concern.

I was torn about what to do with this information. On one hand, I was certain that the other members of our wrestling community would want to know about your health concerns, to offer whatever moral support they could; on the other, I didn't feel this was news that I was entitled to share with anyone else, without your explicit permission to do so.

Although I am deeply concerned for you, I am pleased and relieved that you have decided to inform the Kansas wrestling community of your battle. You are a warrior, and I am sure that you will defeat this adversary. Be certain that you have the thoughts and prayers of the rest of us with you.
Aaron
Good luck with your battle, like said before we are a wrestling family and I am sure alot of us are here for you even if we dont say much

Jeremy Roberts
We're thinking of you, Sweaz.
Aaron, my mat.com pal and usawks.com compadre, through these posts it seems like ive known you for a long time. I can honestly say im deeply concerned about your health. Someone like you who has dedicated so much time to wrestling deserves better than this. I know u will fight this and win. Good luck man.
i dont know you man, but my prayers are with you. remember, be a winner god didnt put us here to get beat. god bless.
Everyone here is a bit of an update how Friday went and last night as well-

Friday I was up at 5:30am having some trouble sleeping that comes with nerves of a big day. It was probably good that I was up because I had to be at the hospital by 7:45am for an Outpatient Surgery consultation...that went pretty fast and I was done by around 8:00am. I was scheduled to go in for a CAT SCAN at 8:30am...but due to the hospital only having one Xray technician for the Cat Scan Machine...I didn't get in until 10:15am.

I had to drink tons of this Xray juice (not Barium) that was mixed with Crystal Light...It didn't help much on the taste! Once inside the Cat Scan area I was laid on a huge table that raised up and they put me through head first because of having to have neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis checked. After about 30 minutes or so in the machine I was taken out and put back into a wheel chair and taken back to my waiting bed.

Within 5 to 10 minutes of being back in the bed...they wheeled me out to the Operating Room. Once inside they had to shave off the upper part of my right chest area from the groove in the armpit over to about midbody and then up. They did a local anesthetic so I was awake for the entire operation. A nodule slightly larger than the size of one of those resturant sized butter spread tubs was removed from the right infraclavicular area. Once out I accepted the option to look at it and it looked like basically a tiny brain. They also cut it open and showed me the inside...pretty cool.

From there they took it and immediantly got on the road to neighboring Manhattan for a preliminary biopsy from the Cancer Specialist staff at the Manhattan Medical Center. It is now on it's was to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where the Cancer Center there is going to give my lymphoma an exact type, right now my surgeon is leaning toward Hodgekins disease (If any of this sounds like a foreign language...I think it is)

I received a call from my surgeon Friday around 2:30 pm and I'm now scheduled to meet with the Oncologist at Manhattan on Monday, and I may start my Chemo/Radiation/whatever treatment next week as well, as we will explore options and tackle them fast.

Friday Night/Saturday Morning-

4:30 am-woke up with choking sensation was uncontrolably shaking...teeth were chattering and tears wouldn't stop flowing...I was trying to curl up deeper and deeper in my blankets and it was no use. Mom heard me and was at my bedside pretty quick...I felt so shameful about the situation and bad about waking her and dad who soon followed in to the bedroom... Dad nearly went to tears when he tried to give me some Pain Reliever medicine and I told him that I didn't think I could swallow them...instead we managed to find some chewable kids tylenol and took that...no matter how hard I tried to fall back asleep I couldn't so I was up the rest of the morning. After a good meal at the local cafe in town....I was finally tired and able to sleep from 8:30ish to around 11:30am, able to get some of that sleep that I lacked in the night.

That for the most part is the update, I'll keep everyone informed of Moday's meeting...Sunday ought to be hectic at church with people finding out as well.

I'll keep you all along for the ride.....
Swayz:

You will be in my thoughts and prayers. If there is anything I can do for you (like finishing off that college report, e-mail or PM me whatever you think I need) let me know, I will be much obliged to do so.

Cancer is a sh!tty thing, but it happens to the best of us. But it's the true bests that make it out. I know you will "git er dun"

-Brett Shoffner
KANSAS WRESTLING
Swayz: I have known you only on the forum, but have always been impressed with your honesty and integrity , and the way that you have faced down trouble that you have had before. I will Pray, too, for you and for all of us. I am impressed and touched by the way that you have kept us all informed, because you know that there is a lot of love out here. we all share a love of the sport, we all have our own styles of expressing ourselves, and sometimes the styles clash and there is animosity. Thank you so much for showing that we can be above that, And this time, when we show our concern in your greatest time of need, we are at our strongest and best. Thank you for expressing your need, and letting us share our concerns. let me know where you'll be recuperating, And I'll come visit.
Mike Fairleigh
I don't think KSHSAA would allow for students that will be returning to high school to compete, but I was wondering if anybody would be interested in competing or such in a fundraiser or something.

I was thinking "Wrestle For the Cure" or "The Pin Down Cancer Classic." I know they are kinda hokey...but they are just ideas for right now.

It's time for bed...and hopefully some sleep.

Everyone play hard, and pray harder...
Aaron you are in our thoughts and prayers - battle young man.
Wishing you the best!

Kit Harris & Baldwin Wrestling
Aaron:

You will remain in our thoughts and prayers as you begin your battle. Even though it will be hard at times, remain strong and positive in your fight and you will get through all of this. If we can do anything for you, please let us know.

Greg, Leanna, Danny & Gavin Grater
Aaron,

Thank you for the posts on your situation. They are theraputic for you and us.

They are good therapy so you can deal with all of the emotional crud that you have to deal with on your way to recovery. Keep that positive focus of recovery.

They also are good for us in the wrestling community. We get so wrapped up in all that happens on the mat that we forget that God has blessed us with some of the most corageous, giving, humorous, and loving people a sport has to offer. Your updates are reminders that wrestling has brought all of us together, but there is something so much bigger than the sport at stake. We have made lifetime connections and friends through this sport and when we go through the trials and tribulations of life, we have a support group that hopes and prays for us in our time of need.

I hope it comforts you to know that though you've never met some of us personally, we are concerned and are praying to see sometime soon a post that reads, "Cancer - yeah I kicked its A$$."

Good luck and God bless

gibby
Turner wrestlers will have you in their thoughts. You will fight though this!
Good luck Aaron, you're in my thoughts as well.
Aaron:

Fight the good fight and know we're all in your corner and you're in our thoughts and prayers. Keep us all posted.

Coach Holmes
Good luck man. Really puts everything into perspective. 2 things: you're young and you're a wrestler. I don't think cancer or any disease has a chance!
Aaron,

" Some river rocks gently have the water wash over them. Others are tossed about by rough currents and become polished. These are the ones sought after for their beauty."-unknown

You are going through a tough time right now, but you will come out of it a better man. Keep your head up, and call on your wrestling family for anything you need, no matter how insignificant you may think it is. We want to help, let us know how.

Our prayers are with you,
Ryan Jilka and the Goddard Wrestling family
Sweazy, just wanted to let you know that you have people in multiple time zones wishing you the best. Best of luck.
Aaron,

We are thinking of you here at Circle. Keep battling partner!!! If you need anything let us know. Ill try to send you an email.
Aaron, Just coming back to the webpage after a few days off ... to this! Our health is a precious thing. Meet this challenge with that dynamite smile you had on your face at the Senior Classic.

My thoughts and prayers are for many future meetings and tournaments to come!
Guys haven't really had a break since diagnosis on Thursday the 22nd. Had bone marrow biopsy done yesterday and had a heart/liver function test and had a Port a Catheter put in my chest to make it less painful with each Chemo treatment...8:00 am on Thursday 29th, I have a Cardiopulmonary Function Test at Mercy Hospital in Manhattan.

By the way...this will update you as well should I be to sick to write :

Thanks to my sister in law who was a high school wrestling manager back a few years ago...Everyone will be able to follow my progress. Here is a website that has been started up that will allow everyone to leave messages and follow the journey:

http://www.caringbridge.org/ks/aaronsweazy

I'm off to bed...goodnight everyone...and thanks again for everything!
I think we might hire some wrestlers to answer the door at our house...yesterday a whack-job lady came up and said she heard about me having cancer and that her daughter's went to school with me...well to make a long story short she said that some people in her church had their son cured totally of cancer by drinking "the water" I kid you not...this lady was trying to give my mom a flyer about some cure all water...she also said that if I couldn't swallow it I could spray it on. If water was the cure all for cancer...I'd have been buck naked in the rain hours ago!

Where do we get these yokels?
Swayz,

You are so precious. I read each day with interest and hope, your posts. My family only knows you from the forum, but that is good enough for us. Our daily prayers are with you and know that you will fight the good fight. As everyone has said, our wrestling family is strong in faith and we plan to use all of it to get you healed. Have a great day.

The Edisons
AARON GOOD AFTERNOON, I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING BETTER AND I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE WRESTLING COMMUNITY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO POST A REPLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BUT I GUESS I HAVE BEEN SENDING THE MESSAGES TO CYBER SPACE. I HOPE THIS ONE GETS THROUGH. REMEMBER HOW YOU HAD TO HELP ME THROUGH THE WHOLE KIDS STATE AND SENIOR CLASSIC MEDIA PASS AND E-MAIL MESSAGES. WELL I STILL NEED YOUR HELP BIG GUY. SO GET STRONGER WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU. JUST LIKE THE MAN FROM MACON GEORGIA OVER IN IRAQ THAT HAD HIS COMMUNITY AND FAMILY PRAYING FOR HIS SAFE RETURN. WE ALSO ARE THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THE POWER OF PRAYER IS SO GREAT AND WE ARE ON OUR KNEES PRAYING FOR YOU AND KNOW ING IN OUR HEARTS THAT YOU WILL IMPROVE. DON'T FORGET THE MOCK INTERVIEW WE DID SO THAT YOU CAN BECOME A SUCCESSFUL COACH AND DO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT. THAT IS WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SPORT OF WRESTLING . GET STRONGER MY YOUNG FRIEND. A OLD COACH IS THINKING OF YOU EVERY DAY AND PRAYING FOR YOU. RMG
I've heard from many a wrestlers and wrestling families thus far here, via email and on my website...and I take it to heart hearing from my fellow Kansas wrestling colleagues.

I was supposed to go into Chemo today, but due to a flaw in the clinic not getting me on medication last week to prepare for this, I now have to wait 1more day...it's like getting a bye in a tournament and not wrestling until 4pm it sucks!!!

Well anyway, I hope all is well, there is a website established (if you didn't already know) that you all can leave messages, some of the wrestling names on there just have me floored to hear from guys like various Kansas State Champions to 3 and 4 time National Champions in College. The wrestling community has been outstanding...and if you want a good emotional message to read on that site read old Coach Jagerson's email, from a guy that was a tough guy, he sure can make tears come to your eyes.

But anyway you can read up on my updates, and also leave messages...we are looking for photos of me but are having trouble finding some. Here is the site: http://www.caringbridge.org/ks/aaronsweazy hope you all are doing well on finals and are staying in better health than me. I

Take care and God Bless....

Your bro in wrestling,

Aaron Sweazy
There should be an update on the site hopefully tonight by my sis in law. Had some trouble with chemo but am doing fine. I'm getting excited for all the guys and gals if we have them going to Fargo...I hope you all kick rear although it's still down the road, just seeing advertising for purchasing the tshirts for the Greco guys has my blood pumping Kansas along with the chemo. Hope everybody is doing well.

Coach Gonzalez...

I'll keep fighting, I may even try to make it out to Topeka as much as I'm driving out to Manhattan that would just be a short added skip up the road for a handshake and hug.

To the wrestling community-

I'm doing well and soon will be the Bald Headed Teddy Bear...so I ought to be a sight for sore eyes. I miss a lot of you and wish season would start up already so I can root for many wrestlers, meet crazy parents, get poked in the eye by referees from the Senior Classic), you know all the good stuff. Anyway, I miss you all and wish the best to those competing this summer and getting ready for competition. I may get out for the Sunflower State Games to see everyone if my health allows for it.

Take care....
The Chemo may open up a new opportunity for you.
Jesse Ventura was just a wrestler, but then became bald and soon was governor. I think the possibilities are there, and heaven knows this state could use a governor, and a bald wrestler may be just the thing!!!
Then we can get a my Governor might have been 3-21 in college, but he can try to whoop your Governor's butt! T-shirts made.
Hey Aaron, the bald look is not such a bad thing; my wife still likes it and all. You'll be surprised at how quick you get used to it. Grow a goatee and we can have the BHMWGWCPFA. you know, the Bald Headed Men With Goatees Wrestling Club Praying for Aaron. Of course, women are welcome too but the bald headed and goatee thing is not necessary. I hope that the goatee thing is not even possible for most women desiring to be a part of the club. Still praying for you bud, did last night at church with the worship team; even people from the church are asking for updates. You’re touching lives you don’t even know. The Sweaz is still ABHMOC – A Bald Headed Man of Courage
Aaron,

Just another mom and wrestling fan that has been reading your post and enjoying them for a long time. Know that the Kansas wrestling family is holding you in our prayers and awaiting a speedy recovery. It's just another match, and from what I have read in your posts and in the posts of others, that has never backed you up before. Just jump in there and fight and it will be your arm raised at the end of the match. In the meantime, know that you have lots of friends and fans cheering on the sidelines. Hang in there kiddo! And on this evening before Mother's Day, I will keep your Mother in my prayers also.
Although we can't find a wrestling pic of me from college there are now pics of me on the http://www.caringbridge.org/ks/aaronsweazy website. Also a fund is being established to help defray the cost of all this medical stuff going on my way I'll post the info when I find out more.
Sorry for not being on here in a while...we had some bad storms in Kansas that really screwed with our cable that is based out of Georgia (makes no sense but oh well) Along with the weather storms I've been battling setbacks in my cancer fight, my body was wiped out pretty bad from the sample chemo 2 weeks ago and my white blood counts were very low, thus I underwent 3 days of white blood cell therapy booter shot, but now they want to increase the shot to 4 days a week.

We are also battling a local group that assigned a case worker to help me with finances...one problem, she never delt with a case like mine so the last 2 weeks she just pushed it to the side not knowing how to deal with it. On the bright side the well wishes have kept me upbeat and some of you have some very good humor, and on a day before our U.S. guys are trying to make the U.S. Olympic team I found and wore my wrestling shoes to chemo...I've wrestled two of the Freestyle hopefulls and today the pain of the needle prick in my chest hurt a helluva lot less then wrestling Hoy or Lawal!

Anyway that's about all for now...there are updates on my site for this week including pics :

http://www.caringbridge.org/ks/aaronsweazy
If anybody is interested and a bargain hunter the city of Chapman will be having Community Garage Sale this Saturday. Our family will be doing a sale on the corner of 6th and Marshall with sales going to my Cancer fund...I should be around the house after running to Manhattan for an early morning shot. Also we have cancer pins that we will be saleing with wrestling on the card background and the pin attached to the card...the card says in honor of Aaron Sweazy and mentions all the different types of cancers and corresponding ribbon colors. If you can make it great, if not we have more things planned in the future...

Thanks a bunch...
Hey Aaron, I would hope that some of those will be available at the state Freestyle / Greco tournament this weekend. I know that I would be willing to contribute for one as would a large number of other wrestlers, coaches, parents and others. Let us know what we can do to help out.
I somehow was oblivious to all of the events of wrestling happening right down the road from Chapman. I hope to be there on Sunday some point after church...I doubt tommorrow I'll do much having to be in Manhattan for a shot, and then immediantly back to Chapman to help with the Yard Sale (lots of furniture if anyone is interested) but I'll try to bring some of the pin-ribbons Sunday if anybody wants them I believe $6 per pin is what we are asking for. I have a cell if anybody wants to contact me... (785)263-5525 maybe we all can get together and have dinner on Saturday night in JC or something (nothing like a wrestling banquet...lol)
My new Avatar tops everybody else's because I'm ahead of you all on marketing my avatar...lol.

All kidding aside, I'm very appreciative to all of those at the State Greco/Freestyle Championships that came up and purchase ribbons from me or just gave me well wishes or hellos. By the way...some of those lil kids about 5 years or so scare me with their raw talent (Hinderliter knows which one I'm talking about)

It's also great to have finally put faces with forum member names. It's great to be around the wrestling community and all it's hard workers and generous people. Speaking of hard workers, someone needed to get Mark Anderson a new shirt...man was he sweating, Shoff and Kit weren't even breaking a sweat...c'mon Mark...lol.

Anyway that's all for now, hope to hear from you all soon.
I have added Aaron's website to the Links page. It is the first site listed in the "Other" section.
Hey Aaron, Our little dude should give you encouragement to keep your weight up! I'm sure you don't want to end up in his weight class!!

I can just see him nailing you with a reverse gut and throw!!!!
Hope everyone did well this past week at the Southern Plains...I was in KC, MO to visit my new baby nephew Alexander Cole Sweazy. The lil guy has more hair than both my brother and I combined. In fact you can now see a pic of me (bald head and all) with my brother on the caringbridge site as well as baby Alex on the photos page. There is also this weeks updates for those of you who want to know all the details of this past week's treatments and such.
Hey Sweaz, congrats on the kid, although I don't know what you did other than being an uncle which is pretty good. Also welcome to the new BHMWCFK. (Bald Headed Men's Wrestling Club From Kansas) Great pic, you just need the gotee now
Here is a great website that I found that helps cancer survivors, and those currently battling cancer. Check it out sometime. http://www.wearyellow.com
I've heard about the site, it's Lance Armstrong's if I recall from the commercials I've seen...Tuesday is chemo day, so I'm sure sometime this week while I'm drained I'll view it
Hey Aaron are you talking about Nich Reeb from Topeka he is a tough kid and he is only seven years old. Also are you coming down to Topeka for the state games?
When is the wrestling for the State games? I can't drive terribly far...Manhattan is a quite a drive for me. If the games are on the 23rd/24th/25th I will be in Tulsa with a friend attending Shawn Silvis' Wedding and then some time in Winfield with a friend who is letting me stay at thier house. So I doubt it but I'll see what I can do, plus I have family coming in from PA that week!
yea they are on the 24th and 25th here at SHHS
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