Bailey Schafbuch | Sports Co-Editor

Senior track athlete Daniel Pearson, native of Spirit Lake, IA, came to Buena Vista University (BVU) hoping to run track competitively while taking advantage of the small class sizes BVU had to offer.

In September of 2009, part-way through his sophomore year, Pearson realized his running career had not been going well; he could barely make it through a three-mile run. What he thought was anemia turned out to be leukemia.

“When I first found out, I was devastated. I didn’t know everything I would have to go through,” Pearson said.

Pearson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. This form of cancer is usually seen in children, so when Pearson was diagnosed, the doctor told him he would have a 40 percent survival rate.

Though treatment process consisted of four stages: spending weeks in the hospital, going through daily treatment, weekly treatment, and monthly treatment.

Pearson missed out on a year of school academically, was taken out of competing physically in any sport due to a fear of his blood not clotting if injured. During the treatment, Pearson learned about what hard work truly meant. Even walking up a flight of stairs was extremely challenging. His wanting to do as best as he could through his chemotherapy was motivated by his desire to compete again in track.

Pearson’s main support was his mother who brought him to every treatment and stayed by his side throughout the whole process. The track team also made wrist bands and “Team Dan” t-shirts to show him he was in their thoughts and prayers.

Pearson had his last officially chemotherapy on Decemeber 31, which was a great start to the new year. Pearson has again joined the track team and competed when able.

Video edited by Shauna McKnight
Photos courtesy of Dan Pearson