After we got back from the ER we received some blood from a Nurse that came to drop off some blood from a boy that was fifteen years old. The nurse said to the girls that the boy’s cancer had spread
In August of 2011 I found out that my mother had breast cancer. She and my father sat my older brother and I down and broke the news to us. I was stunned, shocked, fearful, and confused all at the same time. I was only in the eighth grade, so I did not completely understand all the ramifications this would bring to my family and me however, I did understand that word…. Cancer.
Over the past four years I have seen more doctors than an average person will see in a lifetime. From endocrinologists to neurosurgeons, I have tirelessly sought medical treatment for multiple traumatic brain injuries I incurred at a young age. Through my personal struggle I learned that there is no adequate treatments for concussions and traumatic brain injuries in the State of New Mexico. Although the lack of these services forced me to seek treatment outside my community, it has become my main motivation to return to my community and share the knowledge I have been fortunate to receive through these many experiences. At the age of fourteen, I was the unfortunate recipient of four traumatic brain injuries, within a six-month time frame, that would result in a diagnosis of post-concussive syndrome.
At first when I was told I would be able to speak my mind as to what my thoughts would be on the effects of what happened and what Mr. Wilson should receive as a time to serve I knew exactly what to say, but when you begin putting pen to paper you get lost and all the fears and anxiety continue at a high level. Below are what continue to haunt me and my children on a daily basis. I still recall the time you woke up and looked over at me with this crazed look in your eyes. You kicked me so hard in my right jaw and right upper arm. I fell into the night stand, then onto the floor next to the bed.
My freshman year I went out for football even though there was a high percentage I wasn't going to play due to my last year traumatic brain injury. I went to practice and helped with everything and it was fine, less fun than I remember from years past. I got cleared and played and it still didn't seem like it used to due to me be scared at every hit against my head I was going to get another concussion. The year ended and I decided it was going to be my last year playing football. I thought to myself that I was going to need find another sport.
It is January of 2005, and I am on my way to Columbus for my first chemotherapy. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of last year. My two sons, Jeff and Jason are coming along with me. Jeff is driving, Jason is in the passenger seat and I 'm in the back seat of Jeff’s 2002 GMC Envoy. I glance out the window and watch as we pass the Shoe.
The cancer came back fast and hard. I knew she was suffering so I made the decision to put her down. We drove to the vets and we had to keep her in the back of our truck since she was so big. There was only room for one person to hold her while they administered the drugs. I got in the truck with her and gathered her in my arms for one last big hug while they put her down.
For example, Butler (2000) conducted a study on a seventeen-year-old male who had an extremely traumatic brain injury. A year later, he did not response to command and fully dependent for all care needs. He needed self-care; he remained grossly disoriented, perseverative and distractible. He begin treatment with on 5 mg olanzapine in, which he saw a total positive response. He gained auditory comprehension, sustained attention, participation in activities of daily living and in the initiation and maintenance every day interactions.
When I was seven years old my great-grandma was dying, and she was in a lot of pain. A couple years ago she caught this disease that we had no idea about, so we went online and read all about it. It turned out that her cancer came back, however, my family thought that it could go away since it disappeared last time. The next week it got worse, so we took her to the doctors. The doctors said that she couldn 't get rid of her cancer, and that she didn 't have a lot if time to live.
“Your grandma has cancer,” These four words were very difficult to swallow at a young age. Dealing with death so young can be very confusing and difficult to cope with. Not only is losing a family member tragic, but losing a family member who you cared so much about can really take a toll on your life. I know it took a toll on me when I lost my grandmother. It still does till this day.
Encased in an incubator, constricted by tubes and wires, I experienced my first moments in the world under a dreaded diagnosis, cancer. When I was born, my inability to breathe normally prompted doctors to take x-rays of my chest. This led to the discovery of a neuroblastoma tumor inside my ribcage but outside my lung. My parents later relayed to me that the doctor described my tumor to them as shaped like a long, narrow eggplant. At just six days old, a doctor performed surgery on me to remove the tumor.
I have been a smoker for over 10 years and even though I have a fear of Cancer I continued to smoke. Almost every two weeks I would perform a self -breast exam on myself just to make sure I didn’t feel any changes. One day I did a breast exam on myself and noticed a change in my breast tissue; this had me very worried. I called my DR to make an appointment, however they asked questions with symptoms I didn’t have. They asked was I 40 and had a mammogram screening, did I see blood from my chest, and any history.
Aunt With Cancer “There's your life before cancer and there's your life after cancer. I can't say it didn't happen, because i've learned so much from it.-Rebecca Bluestone”. It was a day like no other. Little did I know that the day had started bad but later during that day it would get worse. It all started with a phone call one that no one could ever forget and it would change not only my aunts life but my whole family's life forever.
I’m sorry about your poor mother. I remember when I had first heard about the incident. I felt all the grief for you, I couldn’t imagine what you must be feeling right now. I remember back when I was a kid lots of trauma had happened to me and my close family and friends. A freak accident had happened to my best friend.
Miss Alice Park, in the article in the Times Magazine, describes the inequality between the medical field, insurance companies, and their patients. More and more people cannot afford medical attention, either due to bills piling up, or insurance declination. Cancer is a major issue globally, yet people are not getting treated due to insurance declination. The issue is, the medical field is always advancing their practices, leaving insurance companies to play catch up. Doctors have the medicine to help cancer patients, but are unable to distribute them, for the patients not being able to afford them.
