They wanted me to have a PET scan before chemo, that
was cool because I got to go to Melbourne for it and they let us
have a few extra days over there on holiday. I had my
first chemo the day before my 15th birthday, and had to stay in for
my birthday. They let me out that night though. This was back at
the end of July/August 2007. Since then I have had treatment on and
off until March this year when I had a Bone Marrow
Transplant.
My life has changed by having to go to Auckland every few weeks for
chemo or checkups, having to be careful about not getting a cold or
sick, and not having my own hair. When they told me I had cancer
and had to have chemo, the main thing I was upset about was losing
my hair, but then they said I got to go to Australia for a
PET scan, and I got out of school, so that made me feel a bit
better. Although going through treatment was serious, it hasn't
been life threatening. I think my friends and family weren't sure
how to react at first, but soon enough they were treating me
normally again. My friends, family, my horse and being at home
always made me feel better.
My original plan had been to stay at school until the end of year
13, go to University and do a Business degree and maybe go on
to train to be a Chartered Accountant. But with missing half of 4th
Form, half of 5th Form and I would have missed the first half of
6th Form, I changed my plans. I left school at the end of last
year, and I started at WITT in July doing a Business Administration
and Computing Course. It's what I always wanted to do, I'm
just taking a slightly different route. I might go to Uni
when I'm older though.
Some good things have come from it like getting to go to Australia
5 times for PET scans, having people not notice that my wig wasn't
real, and I think it's brought my family closer together.
CanTeen was really supportive, they were always there if I needed
them, and when I was in Auckland for my Bone Marrow Transplant,
they sent me a box full of goodies to keep me entertained, it was
such a neat surprise. The CanTeen Value that I think is the
most relevant to me is Live Life, because you never know
what's around the corner, so if you want to do something, do
it.