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Mount Helix Cancer Survivor Named Honored Hero for 'Light the Night' Walk

Arnie Levine aims to raise funds, awareness for November 4 event at Del Mar Fairgrounds

Sitting at his house, holding his dachshunds Buffy and Lilee as they give him kisses on each side of his face, Mount Helix resident Arnie Levine is thankful for the moment.

A lymphoma survivor, there were times when he didn't think he'd still be alive. And yet, he carries on, as an inspiration to many.

On Friday, Nov. 4, Levine will join thousands of friends new and old for a two-mile walk with "Light the Night." Sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), the walk’s purpose is to raise awareness and funds for research into battling blood cancer. Levine has been named one of seven Honored Heroes by LLS.

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The journey of fighting against the disease has been a long one for Levine, beginning in 1999. Levine had been suffering from stomach aches and debilitating fatigue. His doctor insisted that Levine’s sickness was caused by a virus. When Levine’s condition worsened, and the lymph nodes in his neck became swollen, the doctor said it was simply an infected saliva gland.

"I was so drained, though. It would take me a couple of hours in the morning to be able to get to work,” said Levine, who is a real estate broker with County Properties.

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Levine’s mother expressed concern over how his symptoms mirrored those of his father, who had died of lymphoma.

“She told me I needed a second opinion,” Levine said.

Sure enough, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, both low-grade and high-grade

“By then, I was in stage 4 of the disease,” Levine said. “My oncologist demanded immediate chemotherapy.”

That is how quickly the disease had progressed in just four short months.

“I suffered needlessly during that time because of the misdiagnosis,” he said. “My spleen was swollen, I had night sweats, and I couldn’t breathe at night.

“You can’t let this disease go for that long. I could have died after a few more weeks of non-treatment.”

Levine can laugh a little about that time now.

“When everyone else was worried about the end of the world happening as 2000 approached, I got my own bad news on December 28, my birthday,” he said. “I came so close to passing away that I had a long conversation with God. I asked Him if it was my time to go. I expected to hear nothing. But I did hear something: 'It’s not your time.'"

Levine says that facing cancer seemed like an impossible task, and that initially he just did what he had to out of duty to God.

"But I knew I had something to accomplish,” said Levine.

Most of the changes came about in 2004, after his first relapse.

“I used to smoke like an idiot even during chemo,” he said. “But with the relapse I started exercising, changed my diet, and found someone who would love me.”

Levine had another relapse last year. What keeps him going is his personal commitment to raise the funds for research into lymphoma.

“There need to be medications that will not have such disastrous side effects,” said Levine, who continues to suffer from neuropathy.

Levine, who is continuing to work, as long as he is able to do so, will be among those walking together in twilight holding illuminated balloons. White balloons will symbolize survivors; red, supporters; gold, in memoriam to those who lost the battle to cancer.

Kristin Sacco, deputy executive director of the San Diego/Hawaii Chapter of LLS, said that Levine deserves recognition for his educating others on blood cancer while in the middle of his own battle.

“He without a doubt is an inspiring person and we’re proud that he’s one of this year’s Honored Heroes,” Sacco said.

Learn more about Levine’s fight for cancer and follow his personal blog at: http://www.countyproperties.net/category/cancer-survivor.

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