My Ongoing Cancer Story

The Journey Has Only Just Begun

      The next few days were pretty crappy. My friends had visited me in the hospital, the table was full of "Get Well" cards from all my family, friends, and neighbours.

      I had a hard time keeping an appetite, every time food entered my mouth, my mind instantly pictures myself throwing it up, I just couldn't bring myself to eat. My mouth and throat also had pretty bad sores from chemotherapy. Think strep throat is bad? This was an entire level above it. I could barely talk because it hurt so much. During this time, my parents were spending days in this hospital room; and my mom quit her job for me. She was already contemplating it before my diagnosis, it was a busy house with four kids and my parents were having a hard time driving us to school and after school activities. But the moment I got diagnosed, she took full time leave, and became a stay at home mom (or should I say stay at hospital mom). To this day, I am still so grateful for what  she has done for my siblings and I.

      A few days later, my oncologist Dr. G walked into my hospital room after his meeting with my parents. "You're free to go home," he grinned. My eyes widened, and I thought I was going to burst of happiness. I'm finally going home, and getting out of this hell hole. On the way home, I could barely stop myself from talking. I was ranting about how much I missed my home, and my own bed. I caught my parents smile sadly at me, I sighed. I knew I was only going to have a few days at home before I have to go back to BC Children's for my 2nd round of chemo. Just a few weeks ago my daily activities were playing in soccer and hockey games. Now my daily activities consist of taking medicine, trying not to throw everything up, and keeping my port area clean. As soon as we got home, I opened the fridge and got myself a big bowl of ice cream. I watched TV, waiting for my three siblings to come home from school. School was ending in a few weeks, I couldn't help but think how great it would be if I could end the school year IN school with my friends. Instead, I'm stuck inside a hospital connected to machines, and occasionally, my house.

       I was starting to doze off when my siblings bursted through the front door.  All three of them grinned when they saw me smiling back at them. They all ran over to the couch to give me a big hug. Lukas picked me up with his strong arms and hoisted me into the air. After he put me down, they all sat down and started watching TV with me. My parents got a couple more blankets for us, and soon, they sat on the couch with us as well. So there we sat for a few hours, as a family, watching the most boring show on TV. But it didn't matter because I had my family beside me, and that was good enough for me.