Survivors
Julie
Life with Leukemia
Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Try to say that 5 times fast - it's a real tongue twister! Well, on St. Patrick's day of 2009, these 6 words changed my life forever.
It all started in mid January when I kept getting aches & pain in my shoulder. My parents just thought I had slept on it the wrong way, or that it might've been growing pains. But as time went on, I couldn't believe how tired I always was, and how pale I was becoming, but each visit to local clinics showed nothing. Just before March break, I came down with a fever, and could barely get off the couch. My parents decided that something was very wrong & took me straight down to the emergency department at the Hospital for Sick Children.
I remember my mom carrying me in through the E.R. entrance doors. It wasn't long till the doctors to come in to have a look at me. They came in groups carrying clipboards and asking my parents millions of questions. Doctors soon found out that each one of my blood cell counts were low. They thought I had a bad viral infection, or something more serious.
I had more tests and they took so much blood, I didn't think I'd have any left! I was hooked up to an IV, and a heart monitor. A couple days later, surgeons inserted a needle into the base of my spine, took a tiny piece of bone from it, and looked at it through a microscope. This is called a bone marrow biopsy. A day after the biopsy our doctors came into my hospital room to give my family and I the news...
I had leukemia.
And the next two weeks were just a blur. I met my paediatric haematology oncologist, which is a doctor who specializes in treating blood cancers in children. She explained everything to my parents and I. I had a form of leukemia called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia also known as A.L.L. A.L.L is when immature white blood cells called blasts multiply and are over-produced in the bone marrow. They crowd out normal cells and spread into the blood stream. I was also Philadelphia Chromosome Positive, which is when genetic material called chromosomes break apart and rejoin. This makes an abnormal protein which causes cells to divide in an uncontrolled way. It is very rare and a lot harder to treat. About 85 kids a year in Ontario are diagnosed with A.L.L, and out of that 85, only 1 or 2 children are philadelphia chromosome positive like me.
So my parents decided that the best treatment for me was a clinical trial. Clinical trials allow doctors from different children's hospitals from all over the world, share information to help each child get the best treatment.
I was treated with high risk chemotherapy treatment because I'm Philadelphia Chromosome Positive. Getting high risk chemotherapy meant that I would be spending a lot of time at Sick Kids, and getting many different kinds of chemo.
Before I could start getting chemo I had doctors insert a button-like port about the size of a twoonie under my skin. When the chemo is injected into my port, it flows through my bloodstream and pumps quickly throughout my whole body.
The chemo makes me sick to my stomach, my hair fall out, and makes my whole body ache like crazy. The chemo also makes it easier for me to catch sicknesses because it weakens my immune system.
For the past 2 years I`ve had countless ECG`s, echocardiograms, finger pokes, x-rays, blood transfusions, inter-muscular injections, bone marrow aspirations, I.V.`s, chemo injected into my spine, and chemo injected into my port.
But the best medicine ever is knowing people are there for me, supporting me and rooting for me to get better.
My Mom has constantly been by my side, and always reminds me of what is most important. My Dad is always there to hold my hand, even though the sight of blood and needles makes him uneasy. My little sister Jordyn always gives me lots of laughs and smiles when I need them the most. In August, Jordyn ran in a triathalon for paediatric oncology. I watched her race that day, and at the end I joined her, and we crossed the finish line together. That day she reminded me that she'd always be there for me.
All of my family constantly came down to Sick Kids giving me lots of hugs, kisses and words of encouragement.
Everyone at my school helped me through and gave me strenth.
But the day the Cops for Cancer team came to my school, was a day I will never forget. There was so much spirit and excitement in our gym that morning. The feeling I felt from everyone gave me the courage to get up on stage and take off my hat infront of the entire school. 30 kids shaved their heads and my school & community raised an amazing amount of money.
None of us ever know what challenges we may have to face in life - even when you are young like me. So when a challenge comes your way, don't let fear get you down - put on your bravest face and climb that mountain until you reach the top. I am still climbing my mountain, and travelling my bumpy road to recovery. BUT - there is no doubt in my mind that I will win my battle, and live to tell the story of how I conquered cancer.
Julie
