Bad news about my little sister
By saundyl
@saundyl (9783)
Canada
March 28, 2008 11:49am CST
Last night I went to visit my parents because my mom told me she had something to talk to me about. Her tone of voice told me it wasn't a good things so all the way over I was worrying about what was wrong...did my grandad have a heart attack, were they selling the farm, was one of my sisters in an accident?
Well i got there an well what she told me wasnt on my list at all...not totally "unexpected" but...a lot earlier than we thought.
You see when My sister was 9 months old (i would have been 16)she was diagnosed with cancer. Neuroblastoma - its a cancer of the nervous system that affects babies and toddlers. They did surgery on her first birthday and She's been in remission ever since. Constantly having to go for tests ever since. First it was once a month then once every three months then once every 6 months. Now its been Once a year.
My sister is now 10 years old and.. she had her tests 2 weeks ago. Yesterday the drs called my mom and told her that Mara's cancer is back and in a different spot. They dont think its the same kind of cancer but another sort. She has to go for more tests soon to find out the type. They had told us when she went into remission that due to her having it at such a young age she was likely to get cancer again in the future. We were thinking a long time in the future..not now
When mom told me i wanted to cry but i couldnt because they havent told tamara yet..and she would have wanted to know why i was crying.
I really wish i knew WHY she had to get it when she was so young...and had to get it again now at such a young age...its just plain cruel.
2 people like this
4 responses
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I'm really sorry to hear that. It is bad enough when an adult gets cancer, but when it happens to a child, it is unbearable. I thought it was bad when I got cancer at 43 because I am told that most of the time, the kind I got hit after menopause. I have found out that is no longer the case since so many women I have talked to that were younger than me got it, but that's another story. It is so cruel that it happens, but some things are out of our control. I pray that they found it early enough that it can be treated and eliminated.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
28 Mar 08
Thank you.
I'm really hoping that she doesnt have to go through chemo or anything nasty...surgery would hopefully get rid of it...surgery before was bad enough.
At one point no one could go near her if they were wearing a white shirt or jacket she'd freak out because the lab techs who came and took her blood wore white and drs and she was terrified. One day i was visiting her in the hospital and the doctor came to see her and he had and intern with him and he made the intern remove his lab coat.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I can picture that in a kid. It would be funny if the situation was not so sad. Chemo sucks. I think that was the worst part of my cancer experience. I hope that she does not have to go through it.
@rmuxagirl (7548)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I am sending you all the hugs in the world. I was diagnosed last year and I wanted to know why too. Sometimes we never know why things happen when they do. It does seem cruel and unfair, it's just not fair. HUGS HUGS HUGS
I guess one thing to think is when its diagnosed at least its been caught and can be treated now.
@marcialoyd (1173)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Hi Hun. I feel your pain and I will lift you up in my prayers. My nephew Christian was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when he was 2 years old. He went into remission a couple of times but never for very long. Unfortunately he lost his fight after 5 years when he was 7 years old. He was such a little trooper though and so brave. These kids can teach us something in life.I just wanted to stop by and say I can feel your pain. I am very sorry. Hopefully the doctors caught it early enough they can get her in remission again.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
28 Apr 08
Thank you for your understanding. I'm sorry about your nephew. Kids are such troopers. When she was in the hospital the first time at 9 months old it was so hard seeing all the other babies sick with other things and..not being able to express how they were feeling in ways others understood. They stole my heart and I'll always say they're my heroes.
