BOONE, N.C. — An Appalachian State University student, known for being the football team's student manager, has beaten cancer.
- Connor Coker was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia during his freshman year of college
- Underwent treatment for three years
- Plans to be back on the field next season, serving as the App State football team's student manager
Connor Coker says he was a month into his freshman year of college when he learned he had a form of leukemia.
He took a year off from school to complete treatment, at times spending up to a month in a hospital bed, but has since returned.
The treatments lasted for three years, but Coker says his positive attitude got him through.
He says he didn't want his treatments to interfere with life, so he scheduled his appointments around football practice. Coker says it was a tough road but one he knew he would overcome.
"There was one day where I actually had a spinal tap, where they went into my lumbar in my back and removed fluid and inserted chemo, and i rushed back here that day to work practice," said Coker. "For me, I could not let that be something that could be held against me. I wanted to be able to live that full life."
Coker says he plans to be back on the field this upcoming season, and hopes to graduate in May 2021.
He says this is thanks to all the support from friends and family and all the Boone residents.