The Tumor that Changed My Family’s Life “Mommy, I need help!” I exclaimed as I was trying to put on my favorite pink and red Strawberry Shortcake dress. It was one hot afternoon, in late July in the year of 2003, my family was getting ready to celebrate my cousin’s first birthday party. “I’m so excited, I can have cake and candies,” I thought to myself as I ran down the hall to go get my shoes that matched my dress. As I attempted to put on my shoes for the very first time, my sister was sitting next to me on the couch in the living room getting frustrated seeing me struggle. “Becca, here let me help you,” she insisted. “I can do it all by myself,” I responded in my little four-year-old voice. She ended up putting them on for me. “Come on Denise and Becca, we’re going to be late,” my dad said while getting my brother out of the baby blue walker. We ran to car excited with the thought of cake in our minds. I went in after my sister, sitting in my booster seat waiting for my dad to buckle me in while my mom puts my brother in his car seat. As we got to Peter Piper Pizza, I knew I was going to have a blast with all the games, food, and most importantly the cake. There were balloons and decorations everywhere, my mom grabbed my hand to lead me to where the birthday party was. After eating pizza, playing games with my sister, and singing “Happy Birthday” to my cousin, my parents decided it was getting late. As we got home, my mom bathed us and changed us into our pajamas. Then
Recently I discovered that I have brain tumor. My surgery is scheduled in two weeks, unfortunately this requires an incision in my frontal lobe. This will cause loss of intelligence, personality, and behavior. I have Fourteen days left with a fully functioning brain, wanting to spend this time doing what I love made me decide what to do. In this two week period I will focus on family, friends, and some of my favorite activities. The first five days are going to be spent with my family at Smith Mountain Lake. Following the time at the lake I will rent a beach house and pack it full of my longtime friends. Lastly in the final days leading up to my surgery I will be in the mountains doing what I personally enjoy most. Overall I will be relaxing,
We found the store that I like to shop at. The store was empty because everyone was in school. I was able to find two chokers, a pink furry sweater, a pink skirt and black high heel shoes. After that we got something to eat and then we went back home. When my dad got
When I found out that my mother had cancer, I was in shock and did not know how to take everything in. She decided that her being diagnosed with cancer will be the best thing that ever happened to her, not the worst. At 37 years old my mother was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer. She discovered the cancer at a very early stage, which was very lucky and satisfying to hear. The way my mother discovered she had, it was an insane experience for the both of us. She started having pain in November of 2016 in her left armpit; she did not think of it as such a vast deal so she just ignored it. Nevertheless the pain got worse over time and eventually she went to see a doctor.
Lauren was an egotistical seventeen year old. She wasn’t friendly and hated making friends. Yet her life was as perfect as could be. She was really tall, taller than average. She had light complexion and ginger hair. Freckles took over her face. Her style was very girly and preppy. She had everything she needed and wanted. Her parents worked hard to give her the very best. The day of her birthday party was approaching fast. Her parents were planning on throwing a huge party. Everyone in town was invited, they wanted the house fully packed to celebrate Lauren's eighteen birthday. They had been preparing her party for four months. They wanted everything to go perfectly. The party was
We waited at the door for our mother, we knew better. Once she approached us we turned around and took a look around the gift shop. I didn’t have a clue as to what I wanted to get.
Two days later I went home and went out to eat with my uncle and my 2 cousins. Then we went home and got our laundry. Then we went to Bonner to do laundry.
Personal and professional experiences have empowered me to be a part of the fight against cancer. As a public health student and now professional, I know the burden of the disease and how it effects the quality of those suffering from the illness. I know about rates, trends, preventative measures, tips and tricks on how to prevent the disease. Yet, it wasn’t until someone I knew, or a friend’s family member was diagnosed with cancer and began their journey of healing, that I was personally affected on a deeper level than the statistics, medical literature could ever affect me. The most impactful experience I have with cancer was when I found out that one of my friends, at the tender age of 23 had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Amelia, before
I woke up on March 5th, 2010 thinking it would be just another normal day. I had planned to go to my best friends birthday party and then come straight home afterwards. Kendal’s party was going to be at the Roller Palace, which was exciting to me because I loved to go skating there. They had the best music and the coolest looking carpet. Before I left, I made sure to put on my cow toe-socks because we had planned on matching, like normal ten year olds do. Sadly, I was the only one who wore the socks.
The first day we got to our house and unpacked everything and made some dinner. Buzz buzz the alarm clock went of. The next day our cousins came and we went skiing and ate dinner at the tap house.
The decorations were just as grand as I had expected. Pink streamers lined the hall. In the middle of the white kitchen, stood a massive, pink cake that tempted the minds of anyone who glanced in its direction. I did my best to resist the overwhelming temptation and smiled at Mrs. Pew when she pointed me in the direction of the party. I left my present on the large table filled with an abundance of gifts. I skipped into the living room and skidded to a halt when I was
It was a bright, sunshine-y day in Disney World. I had recently turned 8 years old and was on top of the world. My family and I made our way down Main Street listening to classic Disney songs blare through speakers from every angle. Cinderella’s castle smiled down on us, a beacon of fairy-tale magic for everyone there, especially me. Today was a dream come true, it was my first time ever at Disney World. Then I saw it. In the window of The Candy Cauldron, I saw the most decadent, beautiful, bright-red candy apples that I had ever seen in my short life. As I walked behind my parents, they did not see me run through the crowds to press my nose against the window to watch as the women dipped those red apples into caramel, chocolate, and then sprinkles.
We ended up going back inside and playing water basketball. With my whole family. Cause it was really fun me and my dad won the game of water basketball. After that we went back to the room which is like a 5 minute walk. Then we got are cloth on and went to pizza ranch to eat. I ate so much food because I was so hungry. Then we went back and we went to bed.
I walked as slow as a snail heading toward the bright yellow bus. It was such a beautiful day besides the fact the everyone laughed and teased me saying I was a crybaby. I got so mad I yelled, “STOP IT!” then started crying. “This has been the worst day ever,birthdays are usually fun not embarrassing,” I thought to myself.
We weren’t there five minutes before we had to leave. Derrick had to leave to work on some guys truck. We rode home, and mom was there, eating vanilla wafers. We went in and got a bath, ate dinner, and went to bed. We were so exhausted! We did all this in one, amazing, fun,
In January, my sister and her daughter came from Connecticut to help celebrate my sixtieth birthday. It was more than wonderful to have them in our home. Ellen had not been to visit since our mother died, almost four years ago and I was elated to have her and Meghan in our surroundings. Vince made dinner reservations at the Van’s Restaurant; one of my favorite restaurants nearby. Larry and Marla, Stan and Carole and Vince’s mother joined in the celebration. After dinner, Vince invited everyone to our home for coffee and a piece of the extra special birthday cake he baked for me. It was a perfect evening and I certainly felt loved and extremely blessed.