Brighter skies: Deployed 4FW Airman overcomes medical ailment during deployment

by Senior Master Sgt. Allison Day
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

8/20/2014 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- That day in 2011 began as usual for one 26-year-old Airman who was a little more than two weeks into his six-month deployment.

But what began as an ordinary day after he woke up turned out to be far from it.

His normal morning routine was disrupted when he noticed the unusual color of his urine. He had a series of thoughts that went through his mind as to what the cause could be.

"I was scared and I didn't know if my organs were failing. I wasn't in pain, so I thought that I must be dehydrated," said Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Tucker. "I went to the medical center because I didn't know what could be wrong."

When Tucker reported to the center tests revealed that he had a half-inch mass in his bladder. However, specific details could not be provided to Tucker and the decision was made to medically evacuate him to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany for more conclusive tests.

Packing his things for the medevac, Tucker felt as though he was in a surreal haze. He had no idea what to expect as he waited in the medical staging facility at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan for his flight.

"I didn't know what to think, how to feel or how to act. I reached out to my mom because I was fearful," said Tucker. "Numb is probably the best way to describe how I felt."

After arriving in Germany, seeing a urologist and receiving more tests it was confirmed that there was a tumor which required removal for testing to determine if it was cancerous. Tucker had five days between the time he was told about the tumor and the need for surgery to remove it.

"It weighed heavily on my mind and I felt so helpless. I tried to keep myself busy," said Tucker. "Obviously, the continuous fear of the unknown was constantly on my mind."

The last time Tucker remembers being really scared of something was at age seven. But it was something he actually came to love. He grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where a hurricane occurred one night. Although scared, the little boy found himself mesmerized by it. That moment began his love of weather.

"As I grew older, I spent a lot of time watching the weather channel," said Tucker, now the 386th Expeditionary Operation Support Squadron weather flight NCO in charge. "I knew I wanted to join the Air Force because my dad was in the Air Force, so I did right after 9/11. I asked for weather and got it and it feels as though I've gotten the best of both worlds since I enjoy aviation too."

This weather Airman, deployed from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson, North Carolina, loves forecasting. He is in tune with how his skills of weather prediction are needed in day-to-day operations and make a difference in flight missions, but nothing prepared him for what he was going through.

Once the tumor was removed; it was discovered to be cancerous. Tucker was treated with a one-time chemotherapy treatment to kill any remaining cancer cells. Being in this situation, he received the best possible news when the tests showed that the cancer cells were low grade and the tumor was superficial, which meant it likely hadn't spread into the inner layer of his bladder.

After undergoing surgery he was unable to continue with his deployment and returned to his home station.

"I was told that bladder cancer is very rare for a 26-year-old. Having cancer has allowed me to recognize my own mortality and to realize that at any time, anything can happen," said Tucker, who refers to himself as a weather geek. "When I returned to Seymour Johnson I was required to have checkups every three months which involved routine cystoscopy to check for any bladder abnormalities."

Tucker religiously had those checkups for two years after his surgery. Now, his checkups are every six months.

"When my checkups went to every six months, the opportunity came for this deployment and I was given a waiver to deploy," said Tucker. "I'm thankful that I have not needed any chemotherapy treatments since January 18, 2011."

Tucker is also thankful that he's had the support of his Air Force family.

"The people I work with have been very supportive throughout my recovery and checkups," said the 30-year-old. "When the results of my checkups continue to be negative for cancer, I will be considered in remission in 2016."

His life is now like the weather he forecasts because he'll never know what will be. His recovery checks, which will continue for the rest of his life, are a reminder of what he has experienced. Although as each checkup draws closer, he can't help but have a little anxiety for the outcome, yet he maintains a positive attitude and is thankful for each day he's given.

"The fact that my cancer hasn't returned is a great sign," said Tucker. "I'm very happy to be in the military, to deploy, serve my country and enjoy life."