Personal Narrative: How Cancer Changed My Life

Every day, my mom would drive to the hospital, and get her radiation in the mornings. As this went on for about two weeks, the doctors were very sweet. They helped my mom in so many ways, we are thankful to have them help my mom.

Everyone hears the word “Cancer” and automatically thinks death? Imagine being told you have cancer a month before Christmas and having to start chemotherapy right away. That was me at age 16 barely a junior in High School, they say high school is supposed to be a great experience. And it was at the beginning which was my freshman and sophomore year. I was that girl athlete with lots of friends who went day by day not caring about my health I would eat lots of junk food and stay up late at night. I come from a Hispanic family single parent my mom and 4 siblings 3 girls and one boy. Two had already gotten married and there was only 3 left at home including me. My mom would work out in the fields so sometimes she 'd come home late, therefore

My husband and I were married for less than eleven months when our world collapsed around us. I’ll never forget what the doctor said, “Much to our surprise, it was cancer.” Seven words that changed our lives forever.

“We can’t go out tonight. I already told you that.” Cali told her best friend Caleb now very annoyed.

There is no mincing of words, nor is there a phrase with gentle connotations to adequately articulate the emotional, psychological or physical place that cancer forces upon you. Quite frankly, battling cancer sucks. The individual engaged in the battle and their support system can choose to crumble or rally. To crumble is to become angry and resentful. To rally is to rise up and use your experiences to help others. I was fortunate that my support group didn’t give me an option to crumble. I was raised in a family, in a church community that focuses on service. So, at 14 battling cancer, I was told that the only way out was through and to get through the turmoil of cancer, I was expected to find a “cancer” mentor and find a way to give back.

I have an intruder in my body. I got the news today that I have a rare heart cancer, which nobody has ever survived. As I walk out of the doctor's office, I’m dreading the moment when I have to tell my family. I took the long way home, so I could think.

There is nothing anyone could have done. My sister didn’t mean to get cancer, and she couldn’t have stopped it from growing. I just wish things had happened differently and that my entire family wouldn’t be turned away from me now.

When I was in 6th grade my Aunt Dana was fighting cancer, and had been for 3 ½ years, I supported her all the way through it. So we held a rally in Thompsonville to support her and show her how much she meant to all of us, and that if she could fight cancer and get up every morning knowing it could be her last than we can get up and fight our battles. She was my light in a very dark tunnel.

Everything started when I was 6, when I got cancer at least that’s when I started noticing what’s going on around my world. It took 9 years to get the cancer “out’’ because it’s not really out of your body, cancer stays in you. Cancer was terrifying experience. It’s weird because one moment you’re in the house and from nowhere your life changes. The doctors told me I wasn’t going to make it, what kind of “doctor’’ tells a little kid that she is was not going to make it alive. My world stop I believe it is funny because at that point I didn’t knew what cancer was, so I was confused. I could only see my parents crying and I couldn’t understand why. After I couple of months a became an expert in this cancer subject. I knew my way to each room and the name of every doctor in the floor and the process a had to go through every day a 6-year-old that could tell what kind of quimioterapi they were putting inside her. Is in it weird?

Everything in life can be associated with a color, happiness is a bright and inviting yellow, while sadness could be a dull and dismal grey. One afternoon, my twin brother, Chris, and I were sitting on the couch, smiling and laughing with one another. Vibrant shades of yellows and oranges surrounded us and made me feel safe and at ease. Our parents walked into the living room with somber looks on their faces, my mother looked upset. That was the day I found out my mother had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. The Russell’s lifestyle was challenged now with a horrible plague my mother was burdened with. The prominent color present in the house went from a warm red to a darker shade, a color I associate with the threat of death. Something about that didn’t sit well with me.

I went in to go get a physical check up as I have been a mud obstacle course that raises funds for those with breast cancer. They have them every year. Two years ago, when I went in tor my physical a hard lump was found in my left breast. My primary care doctor sent me to get a mammogram. All I could think about how those in the past said it will hurt as your breast is being squeeze to death between two plastic plates. I had to answer a long questionnaire about my life. The breast care center wanted to know if I led some wild lifestyle involving alcohol or drugs plus more.

About a year and 3 months ago my mom pasted away from breast cancer changing my whole life around. I promised to live my life to the fullest after realizing the life can be taken from you when you least expect it. Watching her healthy young life being taken away by this one disease made me realize how short life can be. You always hear your grandparents say “your only young once, make the most of it” and they are right. My mother was so close to beating cancer but after all the treatments her heart gave out on her. After her death I promised to live my life and never take anything for granted.

Those years were difficult on all of us, especially when I was older and just starting to understand all the medical operations that were happening. Since those years have past, I have grown into the person I am today: no life is about living to one's fullest potential. I thank cancer for making me stop and listen and remember what is truly important in life. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear what my purpose is meant to be in this world. All I want in life is to give back to society, working with babies and children in the medical field. The doctors and the nurses who showed remarkable help to care for my sister and to them I will forever remain indebted. As a result of that, I have found a love for caring for the little kids that are fighting for their lives against the evil cancerous

I was born on November 15th, 2001 at 11:15am, I always thought it was cool how my birthday and the time I was born match. I barely remember much of my childhood. My earliest memory was smashing my head into a concrete flower pot, I was a toddler and the path I was walking on was cobblestone. A deadly combination. My mom said the bump on my head looked identical to the ones you see in cartoons and she jokes about how that accident totally messed up my brain. We’ve always been close, back in 2010 she was diagnosed with Leukemia and the way I found out wasn’t exactly ideal, it’s alright though because I really didn’t know what any of it meant at the time, I didn’t cry and went about my normal 8 year old life, she’s in remission now which is unbelievable

This will be for anyone who has cancer. It is beneficial because it will help anyone who has cancer. Just one dose and then BOOM! It has cured your cancer. Who wouldn’t want this? It won’t matter what type of cancer you have. It will work on any type of cancer. I would work on this treatment 24/7 until it will work properly, but I’ll probably take a couple breaks.