Sitting behind the wheel, a Soldier contemplates putting the key in the ignition, knowing that his life was forever changed.
During a field exercise while deployed to Germany with 603rd Army Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Staff Sgt. Roy Brock, who is currently attached to the Warrior Transition Unit, in the Warrior Transition Battalion, began noticing a reoccurring pain in his leg.
"The doctor examined me, told me they are going to send me back to the rear and start my med board process because my leg had got infected," Brock said. "So they sent me back to the states."
Upon returning back to his unit, Brock processed into the WTB. Brock was seen by his primary care doctor, who was uncertain what was causing the leg pain. Brock's doctor referred him to Winn Army Community Hospital where a culture exam was conducted on the enlarged mole on his leg.
The exam was sent to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. After the results of the culture exam came in from Walter Reed, Brock was diagnosed with melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
"When I was sitting in the hospital in Winn, just sitting in a chair [I was] just dazed out, like this can't be happening to me. And I never thought this would ever happen to me," Brock said. "Well it can, and it happened. I just had to deal with it and drive on from that."
The news hit Brock hard and made him hesitant to inform his Family because he didn't want to worry them.
"It was kind of hard," Brock said. "I cried some, to be honest with you, I really didn't want to go home and tell my wife."
But Brock persevered and held to his military training to help him through his moment of doubt and fear. His dedication to his Family made focusing on recovery paramount.
"I have a disease that can kill me," Brock said. "I can lose a leg or a limb, eye sight ... It was just a hard thing to take in at that time. But I was resilient. I drove on. I continued my mission with the Army, continued the mission of taking care of myself as far as getting care and treatment."
Because of the aggressive nature of his cancer, Brock was referred to a cancer specialist in Savannah by Winn.
When Brock went to the specialist, he was surprised at the urgency of the situation.
Brock explained, "I saw the doctor on Monday. On Friday I was in the operating room."
After his surgery, Brock was informed that it would not be necessary to undergo chemotherapy because the cancerous area was completely cut out. However, 30 days later, Brock had to return to the specialist for a second surgery because the cancer hadn't been fully removed.
The process took an emotional toll on Brock. Being surrounded by other Soldiers in the WTB with similar conditions helped him gain perspective and stay positive. The support of his unit also helped him keep his spirits up and push through the transition process.
Brock is deeply thankful for the support of the WTB.
"I appreciate everything you all have done for me," Brock said. I know it's a long transition process, but I thank everybody from the bottom of my heart."
Throughout his transition process, the WTB provided Brock with a healing atmosphere that allowed him to gain the resilience needed to deal with this difficult diagnosis. This support gave him the strength to pick himself up, look the cancer in the face, and fight; knowing that he was not alone.
"Everybody's been here helping me out through the whole transition process," Brock said.
Since going into remission, Brock is thankful to be entering a new chapter in his life.
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