SEPTEMBER, CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS

Every year, in September, I make some type of post 

or blog on childhood cancer awareness.

Each year I think, "No one wants to hear this story again..."

Then today, I get my St. Jude Calendar in and am reminded

that if we don't talk about it, then donations stop.

So here I go, my yearly pledge to try and end childhood cancer.

1968, No internet, no facebook, no Go Fund Me accounts,

only one little girl, 5 years old born the baby of a large 

family and older parents. 

That day, everyone in my family has a different memory

and of course the stories I have been told through the years.

Five years old with an incurable, rare kidney cancer, Wilms' Tumor.

Funny as now this type of cancer is 90% curable but there

are still those who die from it.

I remember that something was wrong, and I was afraid

as I had never seen my Daddy cry, I remember

being told that instead of staying in Raceland we

were going to go to a bigger hospital in New Orleans.

I remember my Daddy tying a white handkerchief

to the antenna of the car, which was emergency protocol

back then. I was sick, I knew in my body I was very sick,

but my thought are only that of a 5 year old.

I remember thinking maybe I would die as my grandmother

had died just weeks before and I had recently learned

"you go away and you don't come back"

I can't remember pain, only fear.

Fear of the unknown remains my worst one.

WE  got to the big hospital of Touro and my Dad's sister

was there, Aunt GAGald, who lived in Chalmette.

Lots of chaos ensued until this one man walked

into my life. Dr. Fisherman.... What a doctor, what a man...

I was told later, as a teen that he had told my parents 

he had seen 10 cases of this type of cancer before and  none had

survived the 5 year survival mark.

My parents had not much, the hospital did not accept the 

Champus insurance my Dad had from the Military

but this man said, "Sign her over to me and I will never send you

a bill" They signed that paper and he never billed them.

In1968, there were no laws on how much radiation or chemo.

you could receive, this smart doctor had been following

procedures being done in other parts of the world that showed

more promise than the US treatment. I thank the Big Man

often for the fact that I was not diagnosed in 1969, when

the US banned how much radiation that could be used.

I may not be here today had it turned that way.

Dr. Fisherman tried radiation prior to and after surgery

and I and my family all believe that was the reason

I survived this cancer.

Yet, let me take myself and my readers back to the day

of surgery...

After 6 weeks of radiation where a 5 year old child was

told, do not move, not an inch, your Mom or dad will be

looking through that little glass window. I kept my

eyes focused on that little window and one of them were 

always there.

Then the day of surgery, I remember the baby bed being

wheeled to the big doors but I was not in it, I was

crying in my Mothers arms. I was a little thing, only

35 pounds at 5. I was screaming, my Mom was crying

and so was all the entourage that followed us to the

surgery suite that I called my family.

Finally it was time, time to let go of my Mother....

I had to be pried off of her, I don't know who was

holding on more, me or my Momma.

But I remember the words of this very kind surgical nurse,

she told my Momma, 

"I promise you, I will not put her down until she is asleep"

I looked into my mom's face who was staring at this nurse,

tears streaming down her face, nodding her head yes as 

she handed me over and I remember becoming calm then.

I remember the surgery suite and things that were being said

around me. I had a high fever and someone said

"we cannot put her to sleep like that"

I remained in the arms of that same nurse as she sat

on the surgery bed holding me.

Someone said to her,

"You have to put her down so we can prepare her"

and this nurse, wisely said,

"I promised her Mother I would not put her down until she

was asleep and I will not"

Then I remember the mask of ether ( I can still taste that stuff)

and I was out. 

I awakened to more strangers and pain and Dr. Fisherman.

Soon my family was around me and all was right in my world.

I could go on and on with so many things that happened in my

childhood related to this cancer. I keep saying I am working 

on my book, I know there is a book of my life that needs to be

written. Yet this is a blog and it has gone on long enough.

My story is one of so many other children past and present,

alive and passed, some similar some so very different.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness.

We have access to so much social media...

Donate in the name of a child who suffers from cancer,

donate in the name of my miracle,

Just don't forget that no matter how advanced treatment becomes

children and adults still die from cancer daily.

Thanks for reading a small part of my very long life.

Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for this life.