A Survivor's Tale
The Turning Point
My family and I were not afforded a gentle introduction to cancer—no time for doctor visits, discussions, or planning, nor to process the diagnosis. When my eldest daughter, at age nine, was diagnosed with cancer, it was a whirlwind of panic, tears, and prayers due to the immediate life-threatening nature of her condition. It was literally the worst day of my life. I remember us being rushed from a "normal" hospital to Children’s, the initial hospital reluctant to go into details regarding her condition. I remember sitting in the Children’s emergency room waiting, doctors coming in stating that my daughter was dying and that they had to move fast and get her to ICU and that ICU was coming for her in a moment. I remember my world stopping. I remember trying to remain fearless for her sake. Overwhelmed I failed, fled to the restroom, locked myself in, weeping and hyperventilating, it was between 2-3 AM, I phoned my sister, barely coherent through my sobs, only managing to stammer, "It's cancer."
After catching my breath, I exited the restroom assaulted by many thoughts while trying to pull myself together: the possibility of failing my daughter, the fear of losing her, the potential fracturing of my family—my husband and other children, the financial burden, the risk of job loss, and then back to my daughter. As I neared collapsed again, a nurse approached, steadied me, and assured, "Don't worry. From now on, things will be hectic, but we've got you." Those words. That level of kindness. The support and experience behind those words, along with their ability to follow through are what got me through those dark days.
I wish I could say that this story was untrue and that no one had to endure such an ordeal. Yet, with Cancer this is the reality for many families, the life and death battle becomes frequent and the stress of that battle gets overwhelming.
During my daughter's cancer treatments and continuing today, I have worked alongside doctors, nurses, social workers, and other families in the HOT Unit—a specialized unit for Hematology and Oncology patients—to fully comprehend my daughter's diagnosis and treatment, in addition to helping other families understand their own treatment plans. Our family has shared hope and ideas, resources, meals, kind words with other families in order to support one another. Families touched by cancer have a unique understanding of each other's experiences, and as a result this has enabled our family to make a difference, one family at a time.
Overall, this Foundation is a culmination of our family’s strategies to assist with life when your family faces cancer.
For additional details on our family's personal journey towards balance in the battle against cancer, please click the below link: CaringBridge - A Survivor's Story.