Diagnosed with Leukemia, This Teen Still Completed a Full Marathon From the Hospital

Wesley Araujo isn’t one to let hospital walls or chemotherapy stop him from accomplishing his dreams. The Massachusetts teen completed a marathon at a hospital despite battling leukemia, and the whole medical facility had his back. The 15-year-old displayed incredible determination and perseverance.

Teen Completes Marathon from Inside Hospital

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Wesley was diagnosed with leukemia in January after he bumped his elbow and the swelling didn’t go down.

He recalled the initial trip to the hospital: “My dad came in the room, and as soon as he came in I knew something definitely was not right. He was teary eyed and crying and he told me I was diagnosed with cancer and it was going to be more of a marathon and not a sprint and a long journey. I broke down for two days knowing how much I’ll have to go through in a year or more."

The teen has always played athletic, and has played dozens of sports throughout his life. His dream is to become a professional baseball player.

Though Wesley has had days where he just wants to lay in bed, his dad has helped motivate him to still get up and play ball or workout, and keep things normal.

A Never Give Up Attitude Keeps Him Going

“When you do stuff, and you finish, when you complete the day, and you have a good day, it’s like you won the day; every day you should try to win the day,” Wesley says.

He has spent two months in the hospital this year, and gets plenty of visits from friends and family. He credits them for support, and is glad he has friends he can call at 12am.

It was actually his physical therapist who put the idea in his head to participate in a version of the Boston Marathon. She told him 552 laps around his “pod” is the equivalent of the marathon’s 26.2 miles.

She told him it takes most patients months to complete, and they need rest after 25 or 30 laps. When Wesley heard that, he thought, “not me.”

He did 130 laps on the first day and completed the marathon in six days.

When he had just ten laps left, friends, family, and hospital staff started to gather. When he finished his final lap, they held hospital tape for him to walk through, and played music.

A Future Boston Marathon Runner

He also did a second marathon in just 4 days, and hopes to compete in the real Boston Marathon when he’s out of the hospital.

Wesley will soon undergo a bone marrow transplant, which is being donated by his sister. He’s received support from many people, including doctors, and many GoFundMe donors. He even has a hashtag: “WesStrong.”

“If I had no support system, I don’t know if I would be doing this right now, they just keep me going," said Wesley. “Honestly, I don’t wish this on anyone. This is terrible but it happened to me so I have to go through it anyway. I can’t change the past, so now we just got to beat it and go on to the future. God gave this to me because he knew I could beat it.”

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Wesley’s can-do attitude is just incredible. He got cancer at such a young age, and no one would blame him if he moped and felt-sorry for himself. But instead, he’s choosing hope and courage. Way to go, Wesley!

WATCH: Diagnosed with Leukemia, This Teen Still Completed a Full Marathon From the Hospital

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h/t: 10 WJAR

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Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.