Editor’s note: This story is a continuation of our series focusing on cancer survivors in advance of the Dallas County Relay for Life set for April 29-30 at Memorial Stadium.

It was just another humid day of drills and scrimmages for then Dallas County junior Tracey Palmer and the rest of his Hornet football teammates in August 2009.

“I’ve always liked football,” Palmer said. “It’s just something about knocking the other person down that gives me a thrill.”

Palmer, now a senior, recalls the event happening nearly two years ago that’s left a lasting, painful memory.

“I ran the football and someone pushed my teammate,” Palmer said. “When the coach blew the whistle, my teammate kneed me in my private area.”

When Palmer fell down with a hard thud, he could hardly walk. He later told his coach what happened.

“He wouldn’t let me practice for the rest of the day and as I sat there on the sidelines, I felt excruciating pain,” Palmer said. “As long as I didn’t move, my groin area didn’t hurt.”

Palmer’s father rushed him to the emergency room afterwards and what may have appeared to be a minor groin mishap was actually something a lot worse.

“The doctor told me that whenever my teammate hit me, it activated cancer,” Palmer said. “They told me they had to remove one of my testicles and I was angry.”

Upon hearing the news, Palmer said it was hard for him to hold back tears.

“I just couldn’t stop crying in front of my dad,” Palmer said. “My dad reassured me that everything was going to be all right — that God would bring us through it.”

Later that evening, on Aug. 18, Palmer had to have surgery. Doctors gave him three chemotherapy treatments before clearing him to go home early the next morning.

“I got really sick, I couldn’t eat for like four days in a row,” Palmer said. “I slept all day.”

Palmer said he told his coaches and teachers about his dilemma. His teacher at the time later revealed the news to her classroom.

“They were shocked and couldn’t believe it,” Palmer said. “Everyone started crying.”

Palmer went through six months of chemo treatments in mid-September 2009, and though his hair fell out and he experienced bouts of sickness, Palmer said he felt loved.

“My parents treated me just like a baby,” said Palmer, who comes from a big family. “They bought me video games, a MP3 player, laptops — whatever I asked for.

“My classmates sent ‘get well soon’ cards, sent up prayers, phoned me,” Palmer said. “They even stopped by to check on me. What everyone did for me is what brought me through my cancer.”

Palmer has been cancer free for a year and now that he is set to graduate in May, his remission couldn’t be a better graduation present.

“I’m good — I feel great,” said the laid-back, people person. “I’ve been cleared from my doctors to play football again but I can’t right now and it hurts; I just love football.”

After Palmer receives his diploma, he plans to attend Wallace Community College and study to be a carpenter.