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Katy's Story of Survival

My life was dramatically changed one week before my eighth birthday when I became ill with flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with type ALL Leukemia. This is my story from that moment on.

My birthday invitations had been sent out when I became sick. I was ill for several days and when I developed nose bleeds and wasn't feeling better my parents took me to the emergency room. There they gave my parents the shocking news of my Leukemia. I was soon moved to
Childrens hospital in Seattle where I underwent intense treatment to move my cancer into remission. It is critical to achieve this remission within the first thirty days. My parents stayed at the hospital with me, sleeping next to my bed or on a cot in the hall. We were all in shock for those first weeks, our lives, within days, turned upside down.

I was first taken to surgery and a Port-A-Cath was placed into
a large vessel near my heart. This reservoir is punctured by a
needle. Blood can then be drawn and medications given through
a tube. For the next two years and six months these treatments were
given monthly or perhaps more, depending on infections or other side effects of the treatments.

I received many chemotherapy drugs, some of which were, Vincristine, Dexamethasone, Mercaptopurine, Methatrexate , Cyclophamide and Thioguanine. The side effects of these drugs are: hair loss, upset stomach, weight gain, fevers, a sore back from spinal taps, skin rash, shortness of breath, blood in the urine, vomiting and low blood cells.

I received a teddy bear and a few
medical instruments to practice
such things as accessing a port
and giving leg shots which were
one of the most dreaded and
painful parts of the treatment.
I practiced these procedures on my bear in order to understand why they were necessary.

After a year of treatment my port became infected and I was hospitalized for three weeks while they treated the infection, and returned me to surgery to have a new port inserted near my heart. The nurses and doctors did everything in their power to relieve the pain and keep me from thinking about my condition. Volunteers entertained me with crafts and games and play therapists explained each treatment and helped me endure and understand it. Again my parents were with me constantly.

I have now been in remission for three years. My dark, sun-streaked hair is growing longer and my body strong again. I no longer sit and watch my friends at recess but join them with a happy heart. I love to swim and have just earned my yellow belt in Karate. I also perform in dramas and talent shows with my friends.

I like to spend time with my
Mom, Judy who is my rock
and Greg, my Dad and hero.
My brother Shawn excels at sports. He gave me comfort during my illness when I was home from school for a year, missing the companionship of my friends. I must also mention my dog, Julio and my cat, Snowwhite. They meet me at the door each day when I come home from school.

Now I am an up-lifting worker for the Cancer Society because I remember the hopeless feeling of diagnosis and treatment for this terrible disease. I pray that a better treatment will be found to help more children survive as I have.

This is my story of survival but I plan to have other stories full of happiness and adventure during the years ahead.