Now, Willson is thankful for the people who committed to saving him as he and his family navigated a cancer diagnosis — the loved ones and friends who got him through, the close-knit first responders who make up the Willson’s “fire family,” and the City of Hope Orange County teams who took his hand while providing the highest level of clinical expertise.
Willson was recently surprised on a bright summer morning when more than 50 firefighters from across Southern California showed up at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center to celebrate his last day of chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Willson held back tears as he was greeted with cheers and hugs from a crowd of first responders, family members and City of Hope Orange County employees who together supported him through his journey. “It means the world,” he said.
Following the emotional reception, Willson successfully completed his treatment and then rang the bell, as City of Hope patients have done for decades to commemorate milestones in their survivorship journey.
Developing cancer at a relatively young age meant unexpected challenges for Willson, his wife Amber and their two young sons. It began when he started experiencing night sweats, back pain, heart palpitations and fatigue. The symptoms would come and go, but then they started to get worse.
Initial tests showed nothing abnormal, but he and Amber knew something was wrong. Amber, who is a nurse, pushed for more tests, including a blood test that showed an inflammation marker that was “through the roof,” said Willson. Imaging confirmed there was a mass in his chest cavity. After a biopsy in late December 2023, the couple waited for results and told no one of their fears, putting on a positive face through Christmas so as not to worry their children and loved ones.
When the biopsy results came back, they showed Willson had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
Focused on finding Willson the best cancer experts and the most advanced cancer care, the couple met with Tanya Siddiqi, M.D., the medical director of lymphoma at City of Hope Orange County. Siddiqi practices at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center — the most advanced comprehensive cancer center in Orange County — where she is part of a team bringing new hope to patients with blood cancers and leading pioneering research in the field.
“When we learned Brandon had cancer, the weight of the journey we were about to embark on became heavy,” said Amber Willson. “As a nurse, I knew having the right doctors and nurses on our team was going to be imperative to his success. When we learned Brandon had cancer, I began calling around to friends and nursing colleagues I had worked with in the past and was almost immediately led to Dr Siddiqi.”
Siddiqi set to work designing and implementing a personalized treatment plan for Willson, and Willson alerted fire department management about the diagnosis. One of Willson’s firefighter friends was designated as his family service officer, who crafted an email to tell the others and became a point person for information about Willson’s progress. He also connected Willson with two other firefighters who’d survived this same type of cancer, and these men stayed in touch with Willson throughout his treatment, offering support and hope.
Willson’s infusion cycles continued for six months. The family marked the calendar each day so they could all see he was making progress. “Each treatment got more intense,” Willson explained. “Chemo has a cumulative effect, and each round was harder.”
The assurance that Willson felt from Siddiqi and her team was key, he says. “It just gave me that strength. Dr. Siddiqi spent a great deal of time with us every time we saw her, and she answered all our questions. Her expertise and her bedside manner are incredible. She was very available and present, everything you’d want from a doctor.”
The Willsons are grateful to have so much support from their family, friends and the fire department. “We needed a lot of help, and we got a lot of help,” Willson said. “Being willing to ask for and accept help allowed us to focus on my healing, knowing there was a day in sight to look forward to.”
Finally, in June 2024, that day arrived.
“Seeing my kids and everyone waiting for me was just super special. It’s something I will never forget,” Willson said. “This journey with cancer motivates me not just to live every day with gratitude, but to take the moments and enjoy them.”
Difficult though it’s been, Willson says his cancer experience affirmed what’s important in his life. “Family is everything. Don’t take life for granted. And know that hope is a powerful thing,” he said.
Amber’s View
We asked Amber Willson to share her perspective on her husband Brandon’s survivorship journey. She offered these personal insights in hopes of helping others.
Was there anything unexpected you learned as a wife and mother during Brandon’s treatment?
Through our cancer journey, I came to realize much about our family. I learned of a strength I never knew I had. I learned of my children’s fears but also their incredible resiliency. I knew Brandon was an incredibly strong person, but his ability to adapt and never give up no matter the circumstances became so much more apparent through this process. I learned how important our family unit is and how we could pull together and get through literally anything if we had to. I never let my mind go beyond getting Brandon through this journey. Losing him was not an option I was willing to even spend one second thinking about. My kids needed him and so did I.
How has being a nurse helped guide you through your shared experience with cancer?
I’ve always wanted to help people in some way, and that’s what called me to nursing. Brandon and I have been together since high school. He always encouraged me to follow my dreams and was always my biggest supporter through nursing school. The knowledge I have as a nurse no doubt helped me understand and care for Brandon during his treatment; but like anything, it can also be the most helpless feeling being a caregiver for someone battling such a disease.
Why did you and Brandon choose City of Hope Orange County?
We were determined to get through this, and we knew we wanted the best experts who specialized in Brandon’s type of cancer. It didn’t matter how far we needed to go. Fortunately, we didn’t have to go as far as some, and City of Hope Orange County was the perfect match for us. From the moment we walked in we felt important and more than just a number.
What is your advice for a couple starting a journey with cancer?
Know that it’s okay if you don’t feel fully prepared for this diagnosis being thrown into your path — no one can. Maintaining a positive outlook and making the most of the days where Brandon felt “decent” was essential to getting through to the next treatment. Setting small milestones to celebrate and making plans for life after cancer was also important. I would say to couples, give each other grace — there is no instruction manual on how anyone gets through cancer. It’s one day at a time.
First in research. First in treatment. First in survival. When it comes to cancer, it’s Hope First. Call (888) 333-HOPE (4673).
