Avion Dent was a standout freshman athlete at Blaine High School in Minnesota, poised to compete in varsity football, basketball, and track. During the summer before his sophomore year, he began experiencing severe stomach pain that quickly escalated, forcing him to be admitted to the ICU at M Health Fairview Children’s Masonic Hospital.
“I just couldn’t understand what was happening to me,” recalls Avion. “When I couldn’t do any of my sports anymore, I didn’t really feel like myself.”
After about three months of tests and evaluations, doctors diagnosed him with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD), the hospital’s first confirmed case. The disease caused enlarged lymph nodes, intense inflammation, and complications affecting his organs, abruptly sidelining his athletic dreams.
With intensive medical care and chemotherapy, Avion gradually stabilized. Throughout his treatment, the support of friends and family was constant. “They always told me to keep my head up… and they kept me happy through it all,” he says.
Today, Avion is a freshman studying Marketing at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He successfully returned to school and is thriving academically, an achievement that once seemed impossible. “I just wanted to make my whole family proud. Not that many people in my family go to college, so it’s great,” he says.
Avion’s mission extends beyond his own recovery. He hopes to open a gym and mentor student-athletes facing setbacks, using his experience to inspire others.
“If those kids can have someone helping them that already went through it, then it can change their lives,” he explains.
This past year, Avion has also begun raising awareness about Castleman disease, sharing his story with classmates and local youth athletes to educate them about rare diseases and the importance of persistence in the face of unexpected medical challenges. “I want people to know that even when things feel impossible, there’s hope and that getting help early can make a huge difference,” he says.
