MOULTRIE, Ga. (WALB) — At just 15 years old, Rian Covington faced a diagnosis that would change the course of his life: Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare blood cancer that begins in the lymphatic system.

Now cancer-free and starting his first year of medical school, he’s turning one of the most difficult chapters of his life into a mission to help others facing similar battles.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare cancer of the lymphatic system, part of the body’s immune system, that begins in white blood cells called lymphocytes. The disease is identified by the presence of abnormal Reed-Sternberg cells and often causes symptoms such as painless swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the disease has an overall five-year relative survival rate of 89.3%, making it one of the most treatable forms of cancer when diagnosed and treated appropriately.

When Covington first found out he had cancer, it was devastating for him and his family.

“It’s like no one ever deserves to hear that news, especially that young. And so I cried real hard that night,” said Covington.

After the diagnosis, Covington’s mom reminded him that life isn’t always fair. Going forward, he took her advice and was determined to not let cancer rule his life.

“From the moment I heard that diagnosis, you know, I didn’t want it to deter me from anything,” said Covington. “From that day on, I took that advice she told me and kind of just went with the flow and did the best I could.”

After going through a year of treatment, surgeries and chemotherapy, along with the support of his family and friends—good news came.

“‘There’s not a single cancer cell in Rian’s body,’” is what the doctor told him and his family. “It was absolutely amazing to know that I had had cancer, something so devastating, and gotten through it with the support of the people around me,” said Covington.

From that point on, Covington said he started to look at life through a different lens. Rather than taking his life for granted, he said he now wakes up everyday with gratitude.

“I just wake up every day, super grateful and understanding that, you know, it could get a lot worse,” said Covington. People are in a lot worse positions and it makes everything that I do now a lot more rewarding actually."

That gratitude and new outlook on life is what propels him forward. As a first-year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Moultrie (PCOM), his ultimate goal is to one day provide sincere care to others.

“Being in that position makes you want to help people because most doctors don’t understand that position of what patients actually go through,” said Covington. “So now having had that experience, I understand that I don’t want anyone to ever feel like that, especially when it can be preventable in some ways.”

There’s one population he said he wants to hone in on, though.

“Those who are less fortunate because those are the most important population that you can target,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to be able to make the most impact that way with that sort of population.”

As Covington begins medical school, he said he is determined to give future patients the same hope and compassion that helped him through cancer.

“So now becoming that physician, I can share that emotional connection with patients. You know, I understand what you’re going through, and I want to be there for you in those tough times.”

Covington will be receiving his white coat at the school’s White Coat ceremony this Friday, Aug. 7 in Tifton. This symbolizes the start of his journey as a student doctor.

He is expected to graduate with his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2030 and will begin his residency.

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