It all started when I was eight years old, and my mother was diagnosed with B-cell leukemia. I was too young to understand how truly sick she was. I was scared to visit her at the hospital because I thought it was contagious. But I think the truth behind that, is that I did not like seeing my mommy so ill. With no hair and pale as a cloudy sky, she did not look like my mom that I have grown to know. I only wish I had visited her more often and had the change to say goodbye. I don’t even remember my last goodbye, because I didn’t think it was going to be my last.
Four years after my mom passed away, I was a healthy 12-year-old girl. I played on my school’s basketball team as well as traveling softball team. I just purchased tickets to an amusement park for my eighth-grade graduation (grad night), and my softball team made it to the World Series in Utah. All was well, till I found an odd lump the size of a grape in my groin area. I was near my private area, so I didn’t want to tell anyone. I thought it might be from puberty and it would go away. A few months go by and it grew to the size of a golf ball. I finally decided to tell my dads girlfriend who was a nurse. Upon examination, I can tell in her face right away it wasn’t good.
Within days I had seen multiple doctors, taken multiple tests with big machines, and had a lot of blood drawn. finally, my day and his girlfriend sat me down and had told me that i had cancer. The first thing I thought was I was going to die, just like my mom. My life was going so great. Why me?
Soon after, I started chemotherapy. I never got a chance to go grad night, or to my team’s world series. I was now stuck in a hospital attached to an IV pole, fighting for my life. I was a great fighter because I went into remission in almost 6-months. Although I was in remission, my oncologist continued with treatment, to ensure it was gone.
After winning my battle and living life as a survivor, I now know why me. Throughout my battle I had learned and appreciated so much. Mostly the care, comfort, and support from the nurses who took care of me. They are my inspiration for wanting to help others the way they helped me. My battle made me the altruistic person I am today. Without the struggles I had to face in my life, I don’t think that I would be where I am now. I am proud to be the first person in my family to go to college, and to be the only cancer survivor in my family.
I no longer ask myself, why me? I now know that everything happens for a reason. I was put down that path to learn those struggles, in order to help others to the best of my ability. I am now going to school for my RN BSN, and I am expected to graduate Spring of 2022. This was the “easiest 500 words or more essay to write in the world”, because I enjoy telling my life story. I hope my story encourages other to be strong, and strive for passion in what they believe in.
~~~~PRISCILLA DURAN