One sick love story

Remission

Isn't life great!?

The sun is shining

Birds are chirping.

And I'm lying here... Cancer free!!!

I'm officially in remission! Finally. It's been a few weeks since I was discharged from hospital. And yesterday I had a scan to confirm my remission. Dr. Kartor gave me the results this morning, me and my mum couldn't be any happier.
Things are just really starting to move forward again. My life is starting to go back into place.

I rang up my college and they agreed I can come back to school after the easter holidays in April. Obviously,
I will have a lot of work to catch up on. So they said I can just come a few days a week, so I can sit in the classroom and try and learn a few things. They know it's going to be impossible for me to catch up on everything, so I will start things again properly in September. I'm just going in for the last few months before summer, to get the feel of what it's like to be in college, and get to know some of the teachers. I'm so excited!

So I'll just give you a basic update on my life:

A few weeks ago, I had my last chemotherapy session, and said goodbye to the gruelling world of Cancer.

I still take oral chemo every few days, which does have the same side effects as getting chemo in hospital but it's not as significant. I have to take it, even though there's no cancer left, just to make sure that it doesn't return.

I still have my port in my chest, they doctors don't want to take it out until I've completely finished all of my treatment. Just incase I need to be rushed into hospital for something someday. But hopefully I won't.

It's nearly the Easter holidays and I'm finally going to be able to spend some time with my friends and family.

Me and ben are still happily together, and now we are able to become proper girlfriend and boyfriend. No Cancer distractions.

I can finally start planning for my future. Something i thought I'd never be able to do.

And as of today, I officially have NO CANCER in my body !!!

I'm free...

My life can begin...

So yeah, that's basically what's going on in my life right now. Things couldn't be better.

--

I'm going to go pick up my little brother from school today and tell him the great news. It's been hard explaining it all to him, but all he really has to know now is that I'm not going to be sick anymore.
I'm going to walk home with him and we can spend some quality time with eachother. Something I haven't been able to do because I'd get too worn out.

I stand outside his classroom with a bunch of older adults waiting to pick up their kids.
Obviously I'm not a usual visitor here, so I get a few looks. The bald head under the hat probably doesn't help either. You can still see clearly that I don't have any hair. It's still a bit frustrating that people look at you like that even though you don't have anything wrong with you anymore.
One parent comes up to me and shakes my hand.
"Hi, I've never seen you around here before, what's your name?"
"I'm Darcy, I'm here to pick up my brother luke."
"Oh darcy? Darcy greenwood?"
"Yes?" I say surprised she recognises me even though we've never met.
"I know your mum. Sarah. She usually picks up luke."
"Yeah, I thought I'd come as a change for today. "
"I'm sure he'll love that."
I can tell she knows about me having Cancer. She has that same look on her face that everyone has when they speak to me. It's like a mix of sympathy and curiosity.
"Yes, I'm also the one with Cancer."
"Oh sorry, I just wasn't really sure."
"Yeah, it's me. But it's okay, I'm used to people being curious about my bald head."
I suddenly realise, that I don't say to people anymore that I 'have' Cancer, because I don't. I can finally be proud of my Cancer past. I don't need to be ashamed to talk about it.
"In fact, that's why I'm here today. I've got some good news to tell luke. I'm officially Cancer free."
Her face suddenly lights up.
"Oh wow, that's amazing!" I suddenly find a stranger I've just met giving me a hug.
"Thankyou, yes, it feels good to say it."
"I bet. Well... Congratulations. Good luck telling luke, I'm sure he'll be thrilled. I'll speak to your mum later, I bet she's dying to talk to someone about it. I'm surprised she hasn't already."
"Well we only found out today, that's why luke doesn't know yet. He was at school."
"Oh that makes sense. Well good luck with everything Darcy, see you soon yeah?"
"Okay, bye."
Well, that was a bit awkward. It's weird being congratulated by someone I've never even met.
Telling people I've got Cancer might have been easier than telling them I'm cured from it. When you tell people you've got it, they don't really say much, because there isn't really much to say. Other than cry. But you get a whole speech when you tell people you've beaten it.

"Darcy!" Luke shouts as he runs out of his classroom. "What are you doing here?"
"I decided to come pick you up today. If you don't mind?"
"Of course not. " he gives me a tight, loving hug. Then he holds my hand whilst we start heading back home.
"So, how was school?" I ask.
"Boring, like every day." It's interesting, because I would have said the exact same thing at his age. But now I understand that these years were the best of my life. No cancer, no responsibilities, just fun. But even if you try and explain that to a nine year old , they just won't understand. It's not until you're older that you realise how much you should have appreciated those younger years. Especially when you've got Cancer. Sadie was only a few years younger than luke. Luke doesn't realise the luck he has.
"So I've got something to tell you. Some good news."
"Really! What is it?!"
"I don't need to go into hospital anymore. Because I don't have any Cancer in my body."
"Yay, so does that mean your not sick?"
"Yes, I won't be sick anymore luke. I'm all better now."
He jumps up and down over and over again, his excitement doesn't end, even when we get into the house.
He runs in and straight towards mum in the kitchen.
"Mum mum! Did you know Darcy's not sick anymore?"
She looks up to me with a massive smile on her face, for the first time in a very long time.
"I know luke, it's going to be great."
She bends down and hugs Luke's tiny, innocent body. I crouch down and join in the hug.
Because for the first time, in a whole year, we can finally be a family again...