Imagine being told you have just two years left to live. That’s exactly what happened to Alfonzo Grafton, a towering 6-foot-10-inch Durham native and retired detention officer, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. But here’s where it gets controversial: what if a single clinical trial could rewrite your fate? For Grafton, that’s exactly what happened, and now he’s not just living—he’s dancing, deejaying, and cherishing every moment as ‘Dr. Stick.’
Two years ago, the news of his diagnosis felt like a sledgehammer blow. ‘Stage 4—that’s all I heard,’ Grafton recalled. ‘I thought my life was over.’ His days were marked by relentless fatigue, sleepless nights, and a struggle to breathe. Even climbing the stairs in his North Durham home left him drained. A CAT scan confirmed the worst: lung cancer. Chemotherapy followed, but after two rounds, his doctor delivered another devastating blow—the treatment wasn’t working. ‘I felt like I was losing everything,’ Grafton admitted.
And this is the part most people miss: just as hope seemed lost, Grafton’s physician offered him a lifeline—a clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at Duke Cancer Institute. The trial medication targeted a protein called PCSK9, which had been found to hinder the immune system’s ability to fight the tumor. The results? Nothing short of miraculous. The tumor shrank, and Grafton’s energy returned. ‘I can dance again,’ he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Today, surrounded by his loving family, including a middle-school-aged granddaughter he adores, Grafton spends his days enjoying the simple pleasures: tinkering with his customized cars and trucks, spinning tunes as ‘Dr. Stick,’ and savoring every moment. His story isn’t just about survival—it’s a testament to the power of medical innovation and the resilience of the human spirit.
Here’s the controversial question: Should more funding be directed toward clinical trials like the one that saved Grafton’s life? Or are there ethical concerns we’re overlooking? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation worth having. Grafton’s journey reminds us that sometimes, against all odds, hope can dance again.
