Profiles of Courage

Doug Barnett

Doug Barnett’s Journey through Leukemia

Doug Barnett a true survivor who has influenced countless individuals through his work as a teacher at Pioneer Trail Junior High in Olathe, Kan.

In December 2007 Doug began noticing that he bruised easily. In July 2008 he was moving a washer and dryer and was fatigued very quickly; and again noticed large bruises all over his body the next day. He took pictures of them to ask the doctor but didn’t take them too seriously. When school started, Doug developed an infection that on his knee that he noticed never healed fully. He visited with the school nurse to see if she thought he needed to go to the doctor and she sent him home that day for fear he had a staph infection. He went to the doctor that afternoon and had blood work done. The next day Doug’s doctors told him that he had leukemia. They diagnosed him with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). He immediately began chemotherapy treatment. Later that month in the middle of the night Doug woke up with a 106 degree temperature and the nurses thought he wasn’t going to make it through the night. He had to get covered in an ice blanked to lower the temperature, which was very scary. The following morning he was diagnosed with a virus and was given antibiotics. He fought the battle with courage and perseverance and in spring of 2009 the doctors told him he was in remission.

Doug’s New View of Life…

Initially Doug was sad and scared. He was expecting his first grandchild and was terrified that he wouldn’t be around to meet her. His wife, Chanda, has Lupus and he was scared to leave her to fight her illness on her own. He was determined to stick around as long as he could. When his granddaughter, Addison, was born in February he took one look at her and knew that he had to fight hard and win this battle.

Through the entire time Doug was humbled by all the love and support he received. Between family, friends, co-workers and students he felt overwhelmed with love. He said that people he thought surely would have forgotten about him were posting encouraging messages on his caring bridge website. He was so appreciative of the support and love he received.

During his treatments he found that the experience brought him closer to the Lord. He was given a devotional from a woman at church who had battled cancer. Doug found encouragement in reading and journaling every day. He brought many people to the Lord during his journey. The hospital staff was blown away by Doug’s positive attitude and persistence on sharing Christ with everyone who stepped into his hospital room. Doug brought glory to God through his fight with cancer.

Now Doug is living his life in remission and continues to get his chemotherapy treatments once a month and will teach again this year!