Personal Narrative Analysis

III. Scientists may not know right now why cancer affects certain people but they do know that it has nothing to do with age or gender.

With careful examination, it proved that there was a multitude of problems building on each other worsening the condition exponentially. After comprehensively examining the problem, the doctor spoke in a soothing, hopeful voice. He explained every single detail about what was occurring in her body and why she acquired the dilemma she is in now. More important than the diagnosis was the look in her eyes. Her dead, beaten eyes became alive. Her posture, at first looking down, cold and defeated, altered just the slightest as her chin rose a few inches. Her door was on the verge to slam shut and every trace of light along with it, but, the doctor was able to conjure a flame and bring the light back to the darkest room. Although the treatments at every specialized doctor proved futile, this doctor was able to return hope to her. It was more than just a diagnosis; he had saved her

Doctor: [Angry after startled.] I think you should considerate of your daughter's body, even you

My inspiration for wanting to become an optometrist was jump-started by my aunt Rosemary. My aunt suffers from dry macular degeneration, and she first started losing her eyesight when I was about five years old. I have always been close to her, and I have seen her vision deteriorate. Today she can see peripherally. I have watched as she lost her driving privileges and was forced into an early retirement. I always viewed my aunt's condition without an appreciation of how lucky I truly was to have normal vision. However, In the summer of 2002 I visited an optometrist for the first time. Since that first visit to the optometrist 13 years ago, my eyesight has drastically deteriorated. I currently have a correction factor of -7.25 in my right eye, and a correction factor of -8.0 in my left eye. My vision has stabilized, but my high correction power, coupled with observing my aunt's macular degeneration, allowed me to understand that the gift of vision may not be an everlasting gift. I want to do my best to help people make the best of what may not be an enduring attribute of their lives.

According to American Cancer Society, in our bodies most people are born with two bean shaped organs, found attached to the back wall of the abdomen, these are called kidneys. As you grow in life your kidneys have multiple jobs, but the biggest job is that they act as a filter in your body. They will take in the blood and filter any substance not needed, such as excess water, salt, and other waste. Once the process of filtering anything bad begins, your kidneys will kick out what we know as urine. American Cancer Society says the kidneys will also “help keep your blood pressure controlled”, by making a hormone called, renin. Need more red blood cells? Don’t worry, your kidneys will make another hormone, known as erythropoietin, sending a message

Her family noticed that she here right eye didn’t open all the way up. Holly was born with a cataract that made the vision look faded and try to process the image in the brain. Her family agreed to remove it as early as possible. This is important because it will stun the connection between the eye and brain. Even one or two months without full vision can effect a childs brain development. After surgery an immediate difference can be seen. The reaction is explained as being brought into the world again Holly will have to wear a contact for the rest of her life in the right eye. Holly’s left eye will have to be covered for five years to strengthen the right eye. The eye after years will be a good fully functioning

"I know I shouldn't pry into your personal business, but I've been your doctor since before you were born. I've seen as you've continued to blossom into a beautiful young lady. Through those years I think I know that you wouldn't be here unless that someone meant something to you, and with saying that.. where is he?"

with fluid and her liver nearly compromised. Her eyes were glazed and her memory failing. The

Susan remembers the moment in Dr. Jennings office when he started reading her test results aloud. Once the doctor sat her file down on his desk, he started listing treatment options. Susan’s sound and attention turned into a fog. She sat there in complete silence, wondering what was going to happen to her and to her

Retinoblastoma is a cancer on the retina of the eye. The retina is the inside layer of the eye that has the nerves needed for sight. This type of cancer can be found in one or both eyes. Multiple cancerous tumors can develop in one or both eyes. Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer and it is more common in children. If a child has retinoblastoma, he or she is often born with it. However, it is rarely diagnosed at birth. It is usually noticed when a photograph is taken of the face and the pupils look cloudy, silvery-white, or yellow. This is known as leukocoria orcat's eye reflex. If found early, retinoblastoma can be treated, the eye can be saved, and eyesight can be preserved.

The main way light is obstructed on its way to the retinal is by a cataract in the lens, which is the case in this patient. These can form two major ways: ultraviolet light damage and aging. Ultraviolet light damage leads to an abundance of free radicals. These free radicals act on the crystalline proteins and cause them to clump together, creating a cataract.[2] Another way cataracts are formed is by the natural process of aging. Concentrations of alpha crystallins fall off with age with leads the other subtypes to aggregate and form scleroses (cataracts).[3] This is what is leading to the glare that the patient sees at night. The cataract is scattering the light entering her eye and leading to blur on the retina. Both of these could have contributed to the cataracts in this patient due to her being over 65 and due to her age naturally being exposed to more

A few moments later the doctor came in, making our worst fears a reality. According to the tests they ran she had leukemia, to say we were shocked is an understatement. For months on end everyone was convinced that it was just the flu, she went to appointment after appointment, every doctor said the same thing, “It’s just the common flu”. “How can something that seemed so small and mundane end up being a life altering disease?” that was all I repeated in my head while I sat in the waiting room. I never thought that the person I had been through

One day, I'd grown tired of running the hamster wheel of a life I'd created, and I suddenly realized that I was running nowhere quick. The longer I would run, the further I would become from myself, and yet, I kept running, due to the lack of direction. In other words, I’d devoted myself to living a life according to others, rather than serving the greatness that automatically comes from inside our true-selves. Rather than moving according to my true-self, I adapted and conformed to others, which left me with no direction, confused, lost and running in circles. Therefore, causing me to ignore and run from my commitment to nourish and develop my Higher-self, the inner-spirit. Nonetheless, the more I ran from my inner-spirit the further disconnected

Every six months, Rose visits the clinic for a checkup. Lately she’s been having chest pain and felt a lump in her throat. So she decided that it was time for an early checkup. She schedule an appointment for the following day. When she arrived to the clinic, she explained to her doctor about her symptoms. Admittedly he took an X-Ray of her chest. When the results came back, it showed that her lungs had disintegrated and the right side of her chest was filled with fluid. The doctor took a sample of the fluid and sent it to the lab for testing. Within thirty minutes, the doctor came back with a blank expression and said, Rose I’m sorry but the test result showed that you have lungs cancer stage four. The tears have subsided, and the overall confusion begins. At that moment, I had two choices: I could support her, learn collectible lessons throughout her cancer journey or be selfish and walk away. Of course, I quickly embrace my

It’s October of your fifth grade year, at the end of the day. You’ve gotten back into the swing of things, your teacher is awesome, and you’re at the top of the elementary school food chain. You’re about to walk outside. The weather is beautiful; the trees are still mostly green with a few ambitious leaves already changing color. The sky is blue and the sun is shining in the way it only does during fall. You’re going to remember how it felt to walk across the parking lot on that day for a long time. You’re happy, like you normally are when you leave school, and you get in the car. That’s when Mom tells you your little brother has cancer.