Joomla Login LightBox powered by WowJoomla.com

Northland father tackling what life brings his way

Time is a limited commodity.

The Northland’s Brad Watson knows that all too well.

He values the time he spends with his wife, Teresa, and their four children.

And since the summer of 2007, when he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and melanoma, the time with his family has not surprisingly taken on added meaning.

“It’s not just Father’s Day and other holidays, it’s every day that’s special,” he said.

Other family member value their time together as well.

“We’re grateful for every opportunity we have to be together,” Teresa said.

One of those opportunities was on spring break earlier this year when the family went to Walt Disney World.

“We had promised the kids we’d do that after I was done with my interferon treatment,” Brad said.

The treatment began in November 2007 at a Northland clinic for 30 days, after lymph nodes had been removed through surgery earlier that autumn.

After a brief break during the holidays, Brad, a regional sales manager, began interferon injections at home in early 2008, three times a week, three times each day for 11 months.

It was not an easy time for the family.

“It felt like I had a bad flu every day I was going through it,” he said. “Fortunately, I’m able to work from home.”

His wife and children had to deal with the changes the treatment brought as well and what was still to come.

For during that period, one scan midway through the treatment period showed there were no longer areas of immediate concern.

There was a different result, though, following the next scan, which led to the removal of 41 lymph nodes, which was done at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The tension didn’t stop there as another spot was detected.

After an anxious period, though, it was determined not to be a concern.

There will be concern, though, for some time to come as he continues in his recovery and knows the leukemia, which is dormant, remains.

“That’s there in the shadows,” he acknowledges, while citing significant treatment advances in this area.

In the light, though, he continues to create new memories, many of them outdoors, with his family, including going hunting for the first time with his son, Ian, 9.

His son, Aiden, 6, enjoys fishing and sports.

His daughter Macauley, 18, has a variety of interests. Several years ago Brad was able to spend time with her at a working ranch in Montana.

Teresa and Brad enjoy spending time together at home, including at family movie nights, which are held on a weekly basis.

Spending time at home also just happens to be where he plans to spend this Father’s Day — with his family.

Senior writer Mark Johnson can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed