The story of a youngmummy doing her best to raise two baby girls...
Youngmummy
* I have used a fake name for the girl in this story because I don't know if her family would want me to post her real name * Around the middle of December 2003 Katie got a cold. She was 11 at the time and her family didn't think anything of it. It was winter in Canada after all and everyone has their share of colds. When a week passed and it didn't go away her parents took her to the doctor who immediatly diagnosed her with a sinus infection and sent her on her way with a mild prescription. Christmas day Katie woke up filled with the excitment every child feels on Christmas day but in an instant all the excitment of Christmas faded and horror filled her mind. Katie couldn't see. She screamed for her mom and dad who tried to reassure her that everything was fine but she could not see them or anything else around her. They rushed her to the local childrens hospital and some tests were done. The whole time poor 11 year old Katie sat terrified that she would never see again. After some time passed the doctors called her parents into a little room and in a few words changed their lives forever. The doctor told them that they found two very large and in-operable tumors. One on Katie's nose and one behind her eye which was causing the blindness. The only thing they could do was start radiation and chemo therapy and hope the tumors shurnk enough to give her her sight back. Chemo started immediatly. The tumors shrunk and Katie got sight back in one eye but the doctors told her vision would never return to her other eye. They felt confident that they may be able to clear the tumors compleltly and send her into remmision. Meanwhile, the chemo took an awful toll on her body. She went down to skin and bones. Her once vibrant youthfull eyes became dark and hallow looking. She lost all of her beacutiful thick blonde hair and she stoped eating because food had lost its taste. 11 months to the day she was diagnosed Katie was told she was in remission. "Cancer free" Her hair started to grow back, she didn't look quite so pale and she even had plans to start back to school. That december she was asked what she wanted for Christmas. She replied with " I just want to be cancer free". 3 months later the cancer came back. Back in spots on her lungs and back. Round two of chemo began and for several long months she endured the pukeing, the bleeding noses, the loss of appetite. She even had a bone marrow transplant and had 3 ribs removed because there was cancer on them. Through all of this she was strong. But her body couldn't take any more and they had to stop the chemo. The doctors told her that her body would never be able to handle chemo again but that they thought they had cleared up all the spots they had found. However, if her cancer returned there would be nothing they could do. As Christmas aproached again I asked her myself what she wanted, she told me she "wanted all of her friends at sick kids to be able to be with their families for the holidays". I told her with tears in my eyes that, that was the best Christmast wish I had ever heard and that she was the most mature 13 year old I had ever met. Three weeks ago Katie started complaining about a sore leg. I asked her mom what she thought about it and she told me she was too scared to consider the possiblity and that she hoped it was growing pains. The brought her back to sick kids hospital and did a scan. The cancer is back in three more spots. It's the begining of the end. The doctors once again sat them all in a little room and explained that Katie will never again be cancer free and that chemo will not cure her. However if she wants to prolong her life some they can attempt it. She immediatly said she wants the chemo. Later her mom asked her why she would want to go through that again if she knows it wont save her life. Katie told her she is affraid to die. Her mom assured her that everyone is afraid of death because it is the unknown but that she is going to a better place. Katie made preperation for Heaven a while back and she will be with her Lord when she does die. I asked her mom how she is holding up and she told me that she is just taking it day by day and that she sometimes wonders why God would do this to them but than realizes that their IS a reason and that she can't get bitter. She also told me that Katie has now told her she is no longer afraid to die and that she is fine with it. How can a 13 year old girl be fine with it? CURRENT MOOD: Heartbroken
Katie's story...
How can I complain about a bit of lack of sleep when she is facing such terror?
What kind of person am I to think my life is so bad sometimes?
What if that happens to one of my children?
I love Katie so much and she is going to die soon..... I don't even know what else to say except maybe we should all think of Katie the next time we think we have it so bad.
15.6.06 04:44
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hoverFrog / Website (15.6.06 08:48) She sounds like a very brave little girl. My mother went throught the same thing with two courses of chemo and then nothing. |
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Boso / Website (15.6.06 09:23) Oh my GOd, you've almost got me in tears here. That's a really moving story. |
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undercovercookie / Website (15.6.06 10:22) It's an amazing story. And I don't think anyone can be unmoved by it. Katie is one strong young lady and I wish her family well and all the strength to cope with it. |
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panda_eyed / Website (15.6.06 12:15) For one so young, she has had to deal with so much. My heart goes out to her and her family, they're so brave. And sweetie, of course you aren't a bad person for complaining about your problems. xxx |
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Mylozmom / Website (15.6.06 12:50) Wow! I know that I have heard this story before and you and I have had many conversations about "katie" but reading about it again is as fresh as hearing it for the first time. It must be horrible to know your childs ultimate destiny and I am glad that her mother knows that there IS a reason for this. You know that I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason even though we do not know the reasons. I know how you worry about her honey. She is so loved and will be missed. Please remember to celebrate her life and not morn her death as I'm sure at only the age of 13 she wants it that way. If she has made peace with this, so can you. Don't ever feel guilty about going through the feelings you are regarding your life and it's happenings as life does not stop due to death. It is the circle of life honey. She may leave this life, but never your heart! *Huggs and Kisses* |
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Sherri / Website (15.6.06 16:21) Oh my goodness!!! **wipes tears away** How brave she is to face all this so maturly at such a young age. Sometimes, the world just doesn't seem fair but I am a believer in things happening for a reason. Sometimes it's just really, really hard to see what that reason could possibly be. |
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Flighty / Website (15.6.06 16:47) A moving and heartfelt entry. I know from personal experience what it's like to lose a loved one in this way. |
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nikkipolani / Website (15.6.06 22:16) It's a shame that we often don't value something until it is threatened - in this case, the life of a young girl. My prayers with her family, YM. |
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youngmummy / Website (16.6.06 04:06) Hover-Frog: I am so sorry to hear that. I can sympathize. I have lost several family members to this awful awful disease. . Boso: I had to stop several times while writting it out. It's almost hard to belive someone so young could go through such a horrible thing. . Undercovercookie: Thanks so much for your kind words. Katie and her family have been surrounded by caring people such as yourself. . Panda_eyed: Thanks honey. Your a gem! xo . MM: You were there when we found out she had the cancer and I appreciate the many times you've listened to me since. Huge hugs xo . Sherri: I agree. Logic tells me that their is no good reason, faith tells me their has to be. . Flighty: I am sorry you have also expirenced this kind of tragedy. I wish no one had to. . Nikki: I couldn't agree more. You are a wise lady. |
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click (21.12.11 16:42) Sharing some thing is better than keeping up-to our self, therefore the YouTube video that is posted at this juncture I am going to share by my relatives and mates. click |
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