The type of Leukemia that I had is called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or known as A.L.L. I was in remission within 30 days of my first treatments. My bone marrow was 95% packed with leukemia cells. The doctor called them blasts. All I knew was the blasts were the bad cells and the yucky medicine I had to have were the fighters of the bad cells. After 1 week of being on 3 different chemotherapy's my doctor tested my bone marrow again. This time only 6% of the marrow showed leukemia. It was 3 years and 2 months of taking medicine that has made my hair fall out, made me fat, and made me cranky all at the same time.
I got off of chemotherapy the first time on December 16, 1996. Then, unfortunately 7 months latter, I had to start back on chemotherapy. That was on July 1, 1997. The leukemia came back, in one of my testes. This is a common place for boys to relapse. I had to have what was called radiation therapy along with the chemotherapy.
And then my body started to change, January, 1998 and the medicine that I took was not helping me anymore. I had another bone marrow biopsy, and spinal tap the next few months, and my marrow and spinal fluid stayed leukemia free. My doctor said that there was nothing magic about the last months of chemotherapy, and if I stay on it, it may do more harm than good. So I was happy that I did not have to take pills every day anymore. My last treatment was May 21, 1998.
I had 5 years and 4 months of things that I would not have been able to do or see with my family. Thanks to Dr. Baranko, and the Phoenix Children's Cancer Center.
I got to go to Disneyland, Knottsberry Farm, Hollywood Studios, and to Sea World. Last July I was able to be granted a wish from the Make A wish foundation. My wish was for a shopping spree. I had so much fun shopping for toys, games, a tv/vcr and dinner at Red Lobster. They picked us up in a LIMOUSINE and took us from store to store I had so much fun......
In August of this past year I went to Camp Rainbow. This is a special camp for kids who have had, or have cancer. II had a wonderful time! We went swimming, camping and fishing. We sang songs and made all kinds of neat things with beads. I made a lizard!
Last September, me and my mom did something very special, called the Childhood Cancer Awareness Quilt Project. My mom was the AZ Quilt Coordinator. We made two quilts, and with the help from all of our friends we took them to Washington DC. We participated in the first ever March on Cancer. I learned to hail a taxi cab, with just the wave of my hand. It was neat. I never rode in a taxi before. We saw things like the Lincoln Memorial, The White House, and the most awesome thing to me was the Smithsonian Space Museum. We spent our last day there. I made so many new friends, and we all had one thing in common...CANCER. I felt that I was a very special HERO, because I could help other people know that kids can get CANCER too! I too, have lost many friends to CANCER, who are now ANGELS, like me.