When I was 2 1/2, I was diagnosed with a kidney cancer - Wilms Tumor. The doctors immediately removed my kidney which was timely, another day and the tumor would have exploded and there wouldnt have been a chance.
I had 18 months of intese chemotherapy and while I cant remember how I felt at the time, I still think about the experience every day. I feel a deep sadness about it, if I smell a hospital (or hospital toast!) I will immediately gag, and all of my first memories are from in the hospital. There are certain types of sweets which are taste similar to a medication which I cant have either. So although I was young, that doesnt mean that I havent been affected.
I then went on to live healthily for a few years. The cancer was gone for good, but the next challenge set in...adhesions. For almost 5 years, I went in and out of hospital with crippling pain like nothing I have ever experienced. The doctors told me it was all kinds of things...appendicitus, severe constipation, that I was making it up! Each time I was admitted (a few times a year), I would be put or morphine, they would do a variety of invasive tests, and after a few days I would be sent home back to 100% health for no apparent reason!
When I turned 16 and this still continued, I was transfered to the adult hospital. It only took a day or two to figure out what was actually happening. Adhesions is scar tissue that breaks away from the scar and can suffocate organs. When I had experienced pain in the past, it was scar tissue wrapping itself around my small intestine - partially blocking the blood supply to the rest of my bowel.
Adhesions can be life threatening, and two times since I have had emergency surgery to laser off the adhesions because my organs were shutting down from the lack of blood. Very scary, and these memories are much more devestating (in my mind) than my cancer ones.
For the past five years, I have been very healthy with not even the slighest pain. The doctors say that this may or may not ever happen again, and the longer I can continue without any problems the less likely it is to happen.
I have since completed my degree in Marketing and Advertising, worked as an Online Marketing Assistant, Fundraising Assistant, and spent five years volunteering my time caring for other cancer patients and their siblings.
I am now after a job at Macmillan! I think it would be amazing to work with like minded people and have the chance to put my experiences to good use.
My life so far has made me extremely passionate to help others. Working for a cancer charity is my dream and has been for years...I have been given a second chance at life, and am only asking for the first chance at a life changing job.
If you support me in this, have any questions or anything to say, please send me a message!
Thank you for reading, and genuine well wishes.
