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Learning I had cancer
By Maile on Aug 15, 2011
Hi my name is Maile. I am 11 -years-old, and I have A.L.L. I was diagnosed April 28th 2010.
The story of how I figured out I had cancer is a lot like reading a book, so emotional, so descriptive and so real... except one thing is different when times get hard or bad things come my way I can't close the book and walk away. Fear no longer takes a toll on me. The words Tough, Strong, Courageous and Love are now in charge guiding my path... leading me until I'm cured and forever after that. I have chosen to write because I want to show what it is like living with A.L.L, and hopefully help anyone else battling a similar battle get answers to their questions. But I mostly want to show that if you have cancer you are not alone and no matter what happens you can beat this!
Here is the story of how I figured out I had cancer. It was a typical weekday, heading out to swim team. The same old, same old, routine around here. Who knew in not that long my life would change and never be exactly the same again. We got to swim practice and I hoped into the pool and started doing some laps. All of a sudden I couldn't breathe and was making a wheezy like noise just to get a breath in. Of course I was breaking down crying and no one knew why this was happening to me. I was scared. My mom just thought I was being dramatic so she told me to get back into the pool... because I admit I am awfully dramatic. But this was NO laughing matter or me being drama, this was serious. I got back in the pool and tried to swim it off. Before I got back in the pool I had, had a 5-10 minute break. But that gasping for air feeling didn't go away it only got worse the more I swam. So I got out and confessed to my mom how I really wanted to swim but I couldn't. So she took me home stressed and worried not having a clue why all of a sudden I had felt this way and why I was so easily out of breath. Luckily, my mom worked at OHSU so she knew everyone up there and who was attending in the E.R. that night. My mom called them and asked if she should bring me up just to see what was up with me. My mom told them how one moment I was gasping for air and the next I was breathing fine. She also told them that a weak before I had went to Pump it Up with my best friend Haley and I got a really bad rug burn that wouldn't heal so I started taking antibiotics and even with the antibiotics the rug burn wouldn't heal. The rug burn had gotten so bad it had made a small hole in my wrist and we were soaking it in Epsom salts to drain it. The people up at the hospital told my mom to bring me up... better safe than sorry. I am so glad she brought me up! When we got up there they put a IV in my hand and they drew some blood. We were all scared but I got a stuffed animal so that made me happy. We were there until 12:00 a.m. looking for answers. On the bright side, they had a wonderful volunteer that entertained me and my sister. My mom was SOOOOOO stressed, it was sad and hard to see her like that.
Finally, results came in and my blood was really low and they thought I had either a virus or Leukemia. I took about a week until we found out the final results. I had Leukemia. :( Now the question was which kind of Leukemia did I have? Well my mom had a strong feeling it was A.L.L and she was right. I went from the sporty, caring, kind, energetic, loving, healthy 9-year-old to a kind, loving, caring, unhealthy 9-year-old fighting for my life.
Now I am 11 and in maintenance! Maintenance is where you only have to go to the hospital once a month and you are cancer free!!!! I am healthy! Having cancer has taught me a lot and I have learned to be grateful for little things and not to take any moments for granted. As long as you have a family that loves you, you can get through anything! Live. Laugh. Love. Cure Cancer!
Written by, Maile
