my big sister, the absence of the golden smile.
i am the second eldest of 4 girls but grew up one of 5.
throughout my entire life i had 2 elder sisters, one was blood related and the other was as good as. Reena, was my sisters best friend, had been since they were 2 years old, and had been in my life from the very start.
what i do remember myself from the summer of 2010 is Reena going to the doctors with an on going common cough and cold, she was sent for blood tests and days later diagnosed with Leukemia. Cancer, my world fell apart. She immediatly undergan extensive chemo-therapy treatment and lost all of hher beautiful hair.
my sister, Harriet, told Reena that no matter what - they would make it to prom together - and they did. Reena was the celebrity guest and looked stunning, and my sister had never been so proud in her life. After prom our families met and agreed that now the first milestone was out of the way we would focus on Reena's treatment and ensure a speedy recovery.
After i left, Reena had a serious stroke, and became paralysed throughout her entire left hand side. The beautiful smile she had become known for throughout the city fell and became lobsided. But still, Reena continued to fight.
Her treatments were exhausting her, and visiting her was traumatic for all involved. Watching my big sister deteriorate, slowly was something non of my friends, teachers or distant family could understand.
The girl i used to run around the garden with playing mums and dads, dance for our local troop with, shop with, cry with and laugh with was snatched and instead a stranger took her place that only had the same name. She didn't look the same, sound the same or even feel the same.
Reena died 8 months after being diagnosed. She didn't give up fighting her cancer, instead she didn't want to be living a life where she couldn't walk, dance or even lift her own arms without support.
Since then, my family, my school, my friends, my dance troop and my city together have raised over £40, 000 for TEENAGE CANCER TRUST, which supported our family financinally, emotionally and physichally throughout the whole process.
CanTeen, you do phenominal work. Each and every CanTeen'er should be proud, your all inspirational.