Petrusevski on road back from leukemia
One year ago, the Sandburg graduate would have described himself as ‘happy-go-lucky.’ Now, heis happy to be alive.
A year ago, Cameron Petrusevski was as happy as he could be.
The Sandburg graduate and Orland Park resident was thrilled to be playing at St. Xavier. The 6-foot-6 setter, who hits with his left hand, also earned an alternate spot on a national collegiate team.
Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. The men’s volleyball season was shut down. And the worst was yet to come.
After suffering painful back spasms and hip pain and enduring blood in his mouth after having his wisdom teeth removed, Petrusevski visited an oral surgeon on July 1. The surgeon advised him to get some platelet labs done.
Later that day, Petrusevski was swimming in his pool and thinking about heading to the gym. His mother, Carolyn, came outside and told him they needed to go to the hospital.
She had seen the lab results.
“I was happy-go-lucky and thought she was being dramatic,” Cameron said.
Petrusevski went to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where coincidentally his sister, Taylor, was working her first day as a resident.
Things quickly got serious. His platelet count, which was an alarming nine during the lab test, was down to one. Johns Hopkins Medicine at hopkinsmedicine.org lists the normal count being between 150,000 to 450,000.
Petrusevski was told if he had waited a few more hours, he could have died.
While in the hospital, he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare cancer that develops in 600-800 people each year in the United States.
Less than two months later, his cancer was in remission, but Petrusevski decided to redshirt this season. Because of coronavirus concerns, he’s not with the team but works out individually.
St. Xavier coach Tom Ryan said he’s looking forward to Petrusevski bouncing back in 2022. And the feeling is mutual.
“I still have such big dreams for volleyball,” Petrusevski said. “A chance to return to volleyball got me through this.”
Although Petrusevski’s stay in the hospital was relatively short at 2 1/2 weeks, there were two types of chemotherapy and plenty of tests and pills, including a medicine that included arsenic.
“They came in to administer it wearing gowns,” he said. “I asked why and they said, ‘It is very toxic.’ I said, ‘And that’s going inside me? What are we thinking, guys?’”
The worst was dealing with a peripherally inserted central catheter.
“Every time I moved, I was in great pain,” he said. “That was one point where I thought my standard of living was going to change forever.”
He said being an athlete and having a positive mental attitude helped to hasten his turnaround, even though he left the hospital weak and 40 pounds lighter.
“I was paper thin,” he said. “If there was a big gust of wind, I would have blown away.”
Ryan said he began recruiting Petrusevski three years ago. The coach’s girlfriend, Rachel Lynch, was neighbors with Petrusevski.
Ryan saw him in the driveway doing hand-eye coordination drills by throwing a tennis ball off the side of the house. He said
it was heartbreaking when he heard about Petrusevski’s cancer.
“He had worked hard at getting in the best shape,” Ryan said. “It was crushing because three days before he went in, it was clear how much work he had put in.
“The disease took it from him, but he is getting it back. The things that make Cameron Cameron are back.”
Petrusevski originally committed to NCAA Division III power Springfield College in Massachusetts, but when he was taken off the waiting list at UCLA, he said he wanted to try out there or he would regret it the rest of his life.
He said he knew it was a long shot to walk on, but he was not even given a shot.
Petrusevski missed the sport, and St.
Xavier welcomed him with open arms. He produced 142 assists in 11 matches as a backup to Aaron Kummer.
Despite not playing volleyball this season for the first time since 2014, Petrusevski wants to focus on the positive.
“I know it sounds cheesy, but I have a new appreciation for life,” he said. “You realize you don’t know how long you have and how you will be able to spend it.
“Spend it the way you want to, the way that’s true to yourself, your family and your friends. You never know when your last day or last moment might be. Reset and refocus your priorities.”