By Lia Bichel
Craig Sheppard enjoys life to its fullest after 20 operations and 40 radiation doses. 33885 Picture: Stewart Chambers
HILLCREST Christian College teacher Craig Sheppard has defied all odds.
In his 33 years of life, he has had 40 doses of radiation, 23 operations and told he was on his death bed many times.
Now, the Beaconsfield resident is active, enjoys life, and has a strong relationship with God, to whom he credits his “miracle” survival.
It started when Mr Sheppard was 11-months-old. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. He had growths in the right side of his neck, and a mother tumour in his nose, which left him with a disfigured face.
“This type of cancer was uncommon,” Mr Sheppard said, “but it is even more uncommon to survive. I was given a prognosis of five per cent survival.”
Mr Sheppard said for the next five years, he basically lived in the hospital. He went into remission about three times. He recalled that when he was three-years-old, the doctors said he only had a few hours to live.
“My temperature had reached about 40 or 41, I felt really cold, my teeth were chattering. My father stayed up with me all night to keep me cool,” he said.
“It was a miracle I survived. If it wasn’t for people praying and the faith of my parents, there is no way I would be here today.” He was also told the cancer had spread to his legs and they would have to be amputated, but a final test before the procedure showed the cancer had not spread.
Mr Sheppard was released from hospital at the age of six, but still had many obstacles ahead. At the age of 13, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy – chronic heart failure – caused by the drugs he received in hospital. Integrating into school was also a challenge.
“Fighting cancer was easier than going to school,” he said.
“Kids would tease me because I was bald and part of my face and nose was missing.”
Mr Sheppard finally found comfort in sports. He joined an athletic team, and excelled at sprinting and long jump. He competed at state and national levels, and brought home mounds of trophies.
He stopped competing because of his heart condition, but continues to surf and cycle.
“I was determined to always be better, and keep pushing forward.” He has travelled to India, the Philippines and Malaysia with his wife Jane, telling his story and helping disadvantaged children.
“I want to continue to serve my God in countries where kids don’t have the privileges they do in this land,” Mr Sheppard said.
