TEMPE, Ariz. — A Valley firefighter is in the fight of his life after being diagnosed with a rare cancer in July.
"We've been childhood best friends since we were 12," Chris Hammond said.
If you ask Chris Hammond, 38-year-old Scott Leatham's life-long dream was to be a firefighter.
"To see how much pride he takes in serving others," he said. "He was promoted to Captain not too long ago."
Doug Myers first saw that pride in Leatham 12 years ago and says his friend's dedication has always been inspiring.
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"He's constantly giving back to the community and that man bends over backwards," Myers said. "On every single day when he shows up to work he gives 100% of himself."
Leatham loved working as a firefighter. However, last month they both learned Scott was fighting a different fight.
"I got the phone call on my birthday of July 22nd," Hammond said. "We have so many things in life we complain about and struggle with and yet your best friend is telling you he has cancer, so it really brings things into perspective."
"It's not the news you want to hear for anybody, let alone your brother and best friend," Myers said.
Leatham was diagnosed with NUT Carcinoma, an extremely rare and aggressive cancer. Studies have shown firefighters are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer, but at this time it's unclear if Leatham's diagnosis is related to being a firefighter.
"He's been in and out of the ER for the last 3 weeks," Hammond said. "So out of 22 days he's been in the hospital like 15 of those days."
Hammond is now in the ICU. Hammond, who currently lives out-of-state, says he jumped on the quickest flight with his wife to make sure he was there for Leatham. The past 48 hours have been touch and go, but Leatham is showing improvement.
"So his body rejected the chemotherapy they gave to him," he said. "And so he was in a very critical state, he was having liver and kidney failure. But the last 24-hours have been a huge 180 of his progression. So right now we're in a positive uplifted state."
Myers says he's visited Leatham when he can with the hope it'll give him and his family strength.
"I'll put it in Scott's words," Myers said. "He said when I was in the hospital, 'This has been a roller coaster.' It's been hard because as firefighters we're the ones who are there for everyone in their time of need. We're the strength and the ones who bring the solutions to the problems and Scott more than anybody. So to walk in the room and see your brother in need and on the other side, it's hard, it's gut-wrenching."
Leatham and his wife and two kids, though, are taking it one day at a time.
"If anyone deserves to live and to fight and to move on with life and experience a rich fulfilling life, it's Scott," Hammond said.
"Scott is such an amazing person and I love him so dearly like a brother with all my heart," Myers said. "And I hope the community hears this and understands our brother is hurting and needs the community to rally not only for him but for his family."
And just as Scott was called to help others, his friends say they're now called to help him. If you'd like to help the family with medical bills/costs you can donate at the GoFundMe created for the family.
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