Sally's Story

My name is Sally and I'm 13 years old. I found out in February of 1998 that I had leukemia. I had acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), but luckily for me, it was the most curable kind of leukemia. I was really sad and mostly scared when I heard the news.

It was nice to find out that some people knew that I would be okay in the end, like my 11 year-old sister. After she had asked if I was going to die and the answer was no, she asked if my hair would fall out from the chemotherapy (or chemo-it's the treatment given to a lot of people with cancer). Well, my hair did fall out, and there were times when we had to have a roll of tape nearby to "tape me" and remove all my hair that fell out from where it stuck on my clothes. I had to wear a bandanna to school and my mom's friends gave our family a collection of about eight cool hats. I had some hairs near the bottom back of my head that stayed with me until my new hair that I have now grew back.

Looking back, the love I got from my family and friends was the one thing, other than the chemo, that healed me. I got a lot of stuffed animals and other activities for when I was in the hospital. I really liked getting mail and surprises every day. It was also very important to me when people called to show that they cared. My mom's friends got together and sent my whole family presents at least once a week. The sponsors of these presents were called "The Treasure Hunt People" because we didn't know exactly who they were until the very last present came. The last time I had to stay in the hospital for about a week, my grandma called from California and we finished the hard questions on the crossword puzzle together.

My sister, Kathleen was my best friend through it all. She was always there and she was very nonchalant about the whole deal. She would call me at the hospital and ask if she could borrow a comic book from my room. We also had our fights as sisters. Once, I was in intensive care and I had asked my Dad to get me flavored ginger ale. He got it, and my sister asked if she could have some. I thought he had bought me a 20 oz. bottle, so I said no. She thought I was being selfish and I thought she was being rude. Later I discovered that Dad had really bought two 2 liter bottles, each in a different flavor. I just didn't know that when I said no to her.

When I was in the hospital, my teachers called me almost every day at lunch time over the speaker phone in the office at school. Sometimes they would even bring down a few kids to talk to me as well. I got tons of cards from them and the other people in town. My teachers were really nice to me and gave me all the necessary work without the classwork to take up my time.

I went back to school when I could and was able to catch up because I am a really good student. I was student of the week because one of my teachers, nominated me for the state of New Hampshire and Channel 9. My homeroom teacher was really nice. It was cool to see how much she cared about me. My math teacher was really good about not giving me too much work. My social studies teacher let me eat in his room with some other girls at lunch time when the lunchroom was too hectic and loud. He also helped me to organize a fundraiser for David's House, which is a "home away from home," or a place where families can stay when their children are in the hospital. My music teacher came to visit me once in the hospital and understood when I had to quit band for the rest of the year. These people really made the whole thing a lot easier for me.

It was nice to find out that some people that I didn't expect to see stand up for me did just that. For example, some kids in school who hadn't always been nice stood up and defended me when other people didn't understand my illness or tried to make fun of it. Also, it was great that my friends and family came to visit me in the hospital. They would get together a carpool and a group of girls and all drive up together. My friend Maddie, whom I had only met that year, even came up to see me before I was diagnosed. They would come and play games with me and if I was waiting for chemo or blood, we would explore the hospital together and I would show them around. Sometimes I got really bored in the hospital, and it was always a wonderful surprise when my friends would come and visit me there. My best friends Rachel, Allie, and Maddie called me and I could call them when I was lonely or bored (I usually went inpatient on the weekends). These guys were the best friends I have ever had. I'm really lucky to have them.

My extended family also showed they cared. My uncle's parents sent me gifts, and my cousins, aunts and uncles wrote letters and came to visit me. For Christmas, my extended family in Houston sent me a journal packed with cool stuff. I love how everyone shows they love me.

I also met some new friends at the hospital. Some friends that I hung out with a lot were Meredith and Danae. They both had the same diagnosis as me, ALL. Meredith was 15 and we had played almost every board game the hospital owned together. Danae turned three while we were both in the hospital once and I got to decorate the cake. I love little kids, but I also liked to talk to Meredith because she understood things the way I did.

It was a big help to all of us to have David's House nearby. My dad and sister stayed there almost every time I went inpatient while Mom stayed with me in the room, and then they would switch. We went to Thanksgiving there when I had to be in the hospital that vacation. This year in school, we raised money for the cause. My home-room raised over two hundred dollars alone, the most in the seventh grade. As a school, we raised about two thousand dollars. Half of the money went to needy people in our town and the other half went to David's House. Jane, the director of David's House was really surprised when we gave her that huge chunk of money. It felt nice to help something that helped us.

Dealing with leukemia has been tough, but now that I'm almost over it, it doesn't seem as awful as it was. It's kind of like my doll that I sleep with-there is a hole where her nose should be, gone from loving her. I may have to put a patch on it so it doesn't get worse. I know she won't mind. Just like my chemo. If it is good for her in the long run and it will make her last longer, we know it's the right thing to do.

What are you supposed to think?
By: Sally

People close to you say, "I wish I could take the pain away from you, forever."
"I wish it was me instead."

Are you supposed to think, that you also wish it was them,
Even if you are not always sure?
I've learned a lot from this,
Like, who loves me,
Who is there,
And that my body takes care of me (when it can).
I would never give that up.

But the pain,
Yes,
That I could live without,
But would I,
Could I,
Wish it on someone else?

NO!

Never! No one deserves to live with this for any period of time!

I wish this hadn't happened to me because my life was fine before,
As it is now.
I'm glad I learned what I did, when I could,
But if I had a choice to be sick and learn,
Would I choose not to?

Maybe yes,
Maybe no,

What am I supposed to think?

Sunshine Day(a true story)
By: Sally

Cancer

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