By Katie McGregor
Staff Writer
Most Costa students would never think one of their own friends or classmates could end up with a life-threatening disease such as cancer. However, one student has battled cancer twice and is back to finish his senior year.
In July 2007, senior Federico Ohannesian was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer that causes a rapid growth of white blood cells to accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. Although he missed the first half of his freshman year, he was eventually able to come to Mira Costa for part of the second semester.
“The first time we (my family and I) were all extremely surprised and in shock,” Ohannesian said. “The second time, my whole family was pretty sad and my mom started crying when we found out.”
As a sophomore, Ohannesian ran for the on the cross country and track team and was out of remission for a little more than a year. In May 2009, Ohannesian had a persistent cold. His leukemia had come out of remission, forcing him to return to the hospital and begin chemotherapy again.
“It was very tough to see my son go through this ordeal,” mother Maritza Ohannesian said. “It would have been easier for me to be in his place.”
Ohannesian spent his summer of 2009 in Long Beach Memorial receiving extremely powerful doses of chemotherapy. He then received a stem cell transplant from an umbilical cord at UCLA medical center.
Because his entire immune system and bone marrow had been wiped clean from the chemotherapy, Ohannesian could not return to Mira Costa for his junior year, and he had to be home-schooled instead.
“I was very aggrieved when I found out that Federico wouldn’t be able to attend Costa his junior year,” said friend senior Steven Montoya. “He has been one of my closest friends for a long time, and it was very sad to not enjoy his company at school.”
Ohannesian has been in remission since his last transplant. He believes his experience is something that will make him a stronger person and he plans to make the most out of his life after all his ordeals.
“Leaving Costa for a year might seem like an easy thing to do,” Ohannesian said. “Even though I made jokes about it, it was really rough waking up every morning knowing that I might not be doing the same the next day. I really missed all my friends and my daily routine. It has made me realize that everyone should live life to its fullest and never look back.”
Ohannesian, so far, is enjoying his senior year back at Mira Costa so far. He is participating in cross country and taking many classes that he is enjoying. His future plans include attending college to become either a marine biologist or possibly an oncologist.
“It’s very inspiring, though, to know that he survived cancer twice and is back at school now,” Montoya said. “He was missed by many people, and it’s great to have him with us again.”
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