College: Webster University

Major: Film Development and Production

It’s Thanksgiving of 2023 and Devin Luetkemeyer, senior, chases after his younger cousins in a game of tag. The pain in his leg prevents him from being able to run, so he half-walks, half-limps after them. One month later, he is diagnosed with bone cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, Osteosarcoma is a rare childhood bone cancer, with only 1,000 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. In Luetkemeyer’s case, his knee had been causing him pain for several months, but it was never consistent. His parents took him to Urgent Care, where X-rays showed there was extra bone pushing up against muscles and the skin, causing irritation and swelling. After MRIs and a biopsy, they found out it was cancer.

“When I found out, it was two days after Christmas,” Luetkemeyer said. “I was working on [making] plans with friends [when] my parents came in [and told me the] results of the biopsy. We sat there in a moment of silence, all three of us were crying. But I was like, I’m not going to let this change anything. I have plans with friends tonight, [and] I want to hang out one more time like normal before everything changes.”

Over spring break, Luetkemeyer had surgery to get the cancerous tumor in his left leg removed. It was a successful operation, however, it means he will have to be non-weight-bearing on his leg for the next seven to 12 months. Luetkemeyer said even though he is unable to do much on a wheelchair or crutches, what is most important right now is spending time with friends and family.

“I drop anything and everything I’m doing whenever friends ask to hang out, or family wants to spend time with me,” Luetkemeyer said. “Even though I can’t move, they drive over to my house, sit in my room, and we hang out and talk. Whenever [I] get the chance to spend time with them, that’s what I prioritize, just being fully present.”

Luetkemeyer undergoes chemotherapy around three times a month. It is an aggressive type of treatment, and he has to be hospitalized from three to six days after each session. Because he is in the hospital so often, he is unable to attend school regularly. He was given the option to complete the year virtually but decided against it.

“I feel like I had really good bonds with all my teachers, and they’d be understanding and helpful of my situation,” Luetkemeyer said. “It’s my senior year, I want to finish it as normal as possible. So when I can, I want to go to school and be with my friends.”

Ryan Luby, senior, has been friends with Luetkemeyer since freshman year. She said the biggest thing she can do right now is just be his friend, whether it’s coming over to play video games and watch movies, making gift baskets for him or dropping off food.

“Devin is a really positive, optimistic guy,” Luby said. “He’s handling things way better than I could have. There will be times where he will absolutely be somber and acknowledge this is an awful, serious thing. But he’s not afraid to let himself be happy. He still finds things he enjoys doing, and embraces that.”

Luetkemeyer said the support from the community has affected him positively as well. There is a meal train and GoFundMe, which many within the community have contributed to.

“Since January, we’ve made half of our meals,” Luetkemeyer said. “The other half have been delivered to us by friends, family and people wanting to help out. There are people I don’t even know that [will] come over and say, ‘hey, I’m praying for you, you got this.’”

Luetkemeyer said he has grown closer to his parents through this process, and that his mom, Maureen Leutkemeyer, has been his biggest supporter. He said she took time off work so she can stay with him when he is in the hospital.

“Spending so much time together in the hospital, I think that for him, he has learned my parents are always going to be there for me no matter what,” Maureen said. “For me, I’ve gotten to know, all over again, this amazingly kind kid that I have. Not once has he said, ‘why me’ or ‘this sucks’. He inspires me every single day, the way that he has handled it.”

On April 9, Luetkemeyer started another 19 weeks of chemotherapy. Once the chemotherapy is over, he will get scans to make sure they can’t find anything else. If that is the case, he will be considered cancer free. Maureen said right now, Luetkemeyer’s main focus is staying current with his classes and doing all the things he would normally get to do.

“He wants to go to prom, the [senior] parade and [attend his] graduation,” Maureen said. “Those things are important to him. So we’re making sure the doctors know these are dates that he needs to be out of the hospital. For us, [what is important is] keeping him connected with his friends and school and [making sure he] knows that he has the love and support of so many people, and that he’s not fighting this alone.”

This story was originally published on The Kirkwood Call on May 1, 2024.