Dear Cancer,
Dear Cancer,
Three years ago, on December 18, 2007, Dr. Dan called to tell me that my second biopsy revealed your identity– Hodgkin lymphoma. You were so clever in your hiding, so adept in disguising your destruction, that you nearly got away with suffocating me before we even found where you were lurking. I remember a feeling of power over you just learning your name. You became my instant enemy.
You did your very best Cancer, you really did. You fooled my friends, doctors, and most of my family. You whittled me down to 79 pounds. You brought me to the brink of death time after time and ravaged everything in your path.
What tortures me most is seeing other children suffer and die… and you know that.
But guess what Cancer?
By the Grace of God, I have family, friends, and a medical team who have helped me to rise far above your treacherous grasp. Not only am I out of your grasp, but I am turning around the attack. Yes Cancer, you heard me right. I am out to get you. There is nowhere you can hide.
You know Cancer, every time I share my story, or someone reads Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery, people become more aware of you and the horrors of your existence. The more aware we all become of you, the more money will raise to fund research for your swift demise. And I haven’t even begun my college education which I plan on dedicating to eradicating you.
Your Glory Days are over Cancer. I advise you to start shopping around for your cemetery plot.
Melinda Marchiano 