The Battle
For the longest time when I was younger, I never really knew what Cancer did to the body. Yes, I was taught that cells reproduce quickly when the cancer is present. But what did that mean? How quick is quick? Just recently, only over a year and a half ago, I found out how quickly Cancer affects a person's mind and body.
December 7, 2011, my mom asked to talk to me in the family room after she came home from her doctor's appointment. She was already in a wheelchair because of her bad back. She said straight in my face, "So they said I have Cancer. But they are going to make me better." My mind was spinning. It turns out the large lump in her lower back was a cancerous tumor. They confirmed the disease as Leiomyosarcoma, which is very rare for someone to have. I had no words. All I did was run in my room and call up my friend to let her know what was going on. I had been crying hysterically that entire day. Over the next few weeks, I woke up, helped my mom out of bed into the kitchen and back into bed, went to school, held the tears in all day, came home, did my homework and released my sadness, then as soon as my mom came home from work I helped her every second (eating, going to the bathroom, fixing up her hair, etc.). After putting her in her bed, I went to my room so I could skype with my friend and watch some tv. However, I always kept my phone on vibrate so she could call me if she ever needed anything (which she usually did 3-4 times a night). That was seriously my daily routine every single day. On weekends, I woke up at eight to begin helping my mom until around ten at night. My mom's attitude was very angry, but in a weak way. She would be so tired from chemotherapy that every little thing would just annoy her. But I stuck with her and didn't mind it at all. This went on for a good two weeks. And what a long two weeks they were.
December 22, 2011, we had to go to the Florida Hospital because my mom was very weak. My grandma (everyone knows her as Grammy) had already been here in town for a few days.We stayed there for a good two hours just sitting and watching the doctors do what they needed to do. I had to help her eat, like I normally did. I gave her apple juice and in her little weak voice, she said, "bring the straw closer to my lips". Little did I know those would be the last words she would have ever said to me.
December 23, 2011, my brother and I went Christmas shopping. Not even an hour after returning home, my brother comes in my room saying that mom wants to see us. We drove back to the hospital where there was a woman waiting to bring us into a conference room with my dad and Grammy. They were both crying. My dad said to my brother and I, "You know mom is very sick. They just sedated her a while ago. She can't fight much longer. Her options were to just give her a medicine that would put her to sleep peacefully, or to put her on a breathing tube to keep her alive. Her very last words were, 'I want to fight for my husband and kids.' But they say that even with the breathing tube, she only has 12 to 24 hours." I was in complete shock. I wasn't even able to cry. My mind was trying to make sense of everything. Three months ago, she was laughing and walking around the house. Now she's... dying? I immediately started calling everyone I knew to pray for her. I didn't even start crying until about five hours later when it finally hit me what was going on mentally and emotionally. My aunt, mom's sister, came down to be with us, as well.
24 hours later, she was still with us. I put all of my belief in God at this point. She stayed with us until Christmas Day, 44 hours after the 12 to 24 hours statement. We had to remove her breathing tube because the Cancer had caused an infection in her left leg. They said if we didn't take it out, then the doctors would have to cut her leg off. None of us wanted that for her. So one by one, we said our final goodbyes. I was the first to go because I'm the youngest. What I said to her to stay just between us. After my dad, the last person, said goodbye, we waited 20 minutes before going back to her room. As soon as we walked in, the nurse said, "I'm sorry but as soon as we removed the breathing tube, she was gone." Everyone in the room began bawling their eyes out. My mind went into slow motion, as if I was watching a depressing war movie. Again, I didn't cry until we went home. And my phone stayed on vibrate for the next two months wishing she would call me to help her in the other room. If only.
It's amazing how fast Cancer can destroy a person and the people around them. Recently, I've heard news of a friend who's grandfather has Cancer. And just like how everyone was here for me and my family, I' going to be there for hers. No matter what your age is, it definitely takes a toll on people's emotions. This past November, I had to take a painful tumor test because I had a growing cyst on my ovaries. Thankfully it was nothing and was easily treated, but it still made me realize that Cancer can, indeed, happen to anyone. On July 26 of this year, my mom would have been 52-years-old. She was only 50 when she lost her battle. But she fought hard. Now Christmas is more than just Jesus' birthday. It's also the day I gained a guardian angel.
Cancer awareness is larger than ever now. Whether you walk in the Relay for Life or even just donate to the American Cancer Society, anyone, young or old, can help in the research of saving lives. I encourage you all to do the same. Not just for my mom or my friend's grandfather, but for the future of the world.
Let's find a cure,
Allison
December 7, 2011, my mom asked to talk to me in the family room after she came home from her doctor's appointment. She was already in a wheelchair because of her bad back. She said straight in my face, "So they said I have Cancer. But they are going to make me better." My mind was spinning. It turns out the large lump in her lower back was a cancerous tumor. They confirmed the disease as Leiomyosarcoma, which is very rare for someone to have. I had no words. All I did was run in my room and call up my friend to let her know what was going on. I had been crying hysterically that entire day. Over the next few weeks, I woke up, helped my mom out of bed into the kitchen and back into bed, went to school, held the tears in all day, came home, did my homework and released my sadness, then as soon as my mom came home from work I helped her every second (eating, going to the bathroom, fixing up her hair, etc.). After putting her in her bed, I went to my room so I could skype with my friend and watch some tv. However, I always kept my phone on vibrate so she could call me if she ever needed anything (which she usually did 3-4 times a night). That was seriously my daily routine every single day. On weekends, I woke up at eight to begin helping my mom until around ten at night. My mom's attitude was very angry, but in a weak way. She would be so tired from chemotherapy that every little thing would just annoy her. But I stuck with her and didn't mind it at all. This went on for a good two weeks. And what a long two weeks they were.
December 22, 2011, we had to go to the Florida Hospital because my mom was very weak. My grandma (everyone knows her as Grammy) had already been here in town for a few days.We stayed there for a good two hours just sitting and watching the doctors do what they needed to do. I had to help her eat, like I normally did. I gave her apple juice and in her little weak voice, she said, "bring the straw closer to my lips". Little did I know those would be the last words she would have ever said to me.
December 23, 2011, my brother and I went Christmas shopping. Not even an hour after returning home, my brother comes in my room saying that mom wants to see us. We drove back to the hospital where there was a woman waiting to bring us into a conference room with my dad and Grammy. They were both crying. My dad said to my brother and I, "You know mom is very sick. They just sedated her a while ago. She can't fight much longer. Her options were to just give her a medicine that would put her to sleep peacefully, or to put her on a breathing tube to keep her alive. Her very last words were, 'I want to fight for my husband and kids.' But they say that even with the breathing tube, she only has 12 to 24 hours." I was in complete shock. I wasn't even able to cry. My mind was trying to make sense of everything. Three months ago, she was laughing and walking around the house. Now she's... dying? I immediately started calling everyone I knew to pray for her. I didn't even start crying until about five hours later when it finally hit me what was going on mentally and emotionally. My aunt, mom's sister, came down to be with us, as well.
24 hours later, she was still with us. I put all of my belief in God at this point. She stayed with us until Christmas Day, 44 hours after the 12 to 24 hours statement. We had to remove her breathing tube because the Cancer had caused an infection in her left leg. They said if we didn't take it out, then the doctors would have to cut her leg off. None of us wanted that for her. So one by one, we said our final goodbyes. I was the first to go because I'm the youngest. What I said to her to stay just between us. After my dad, the last person, said goodbye, we waited 20 minutes before going back to her room. As soon as we walked in, the nurse said, "I'm sorry but as soon as we removed the breathing tube, she was gone." Everyone in the room began bawling their eyes out. My mind went into slow motion, as if I was watching a depressing war movie. Again, I didn't cry until we went home. And my phone stayed on vibrate for the next two months wishing she would call me to help her in the other room. If only.
It's amazing how fast Cancer can destroy a person and the people around them. Recently, I've heard news of a friend who's grandfather has Cancer. And just like how everyone was here for me and my family, I' going to be there for hers. No matter what your age is, it definitely takes a toll on people's emotions. This past November, I had to take a painful tumor test because I had a growing cyst on my ovaries. Thankfully it was nothing and was easily treated, but it still made me realize that Cancer can, indeed, happen to anyone. On July 26 of this year, my mom would have been 52-years-old. She was only 50 when she lost her battle. But she fought hard. Now Christmas is more than just Jesus' birthday. It's also the day I gained a guardian angel.
Cancer awareness is larger than ever now. Whether you walk in the Relay for Life or even just donate to the American Cancer Society, anyone, young or old, can help in the research of saving lives. I encourage you all to do the same. Not just for my mom or my friend's grandfather, but for the future of the world.
Let's find a cure,
Allison
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