My Story: August 2013, my niece, then 14 year old Taiya Smith, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. She noticed a knot on her femur for no apparent reason, that was tender. After a doctor visit, and then a specialist visit, she was diagnosed. As each person that is affected with this terrible disease, knows, that devastating blow, packs a powerful punch. I have never felt more helpless in all of my life, than when my sister called and told me the news. I tried to be encouraging, with words of faith, and positivism. All while tears were falling, and my heart felt as though it was being squeezed. I am sure I am not the only one that has thought the chances of this happening to someone I know personally, slim to none, right? WRONG. This disease does not affect our enemies. (Not that I would wish it on even them). This disease is not only in other countries. It is not something that we can run from. I have learned from this past year, that life is so precious. We should never hold back when it comes to telling someone that we love them. Also, It is never too late to leave our positive mark on the world. This past summer, Taiya had a limb salvage surgery. That was just one more thing that added to all the stress for her mom. A single mother of three, whom obviously can not work, due to being in the hospital more than not, with her daughter. So one can imagine all of the stress and worries no income and no help from the other family, can bring. Now not only going through chemo, but this huge surgery, and all of the therapy that followed. ....... Taiya will have her second scans the first week of December. I have read so many stories where scans were clear for awhile and then just out of the blue, the cancer comes back. I am scared to death for my niece, for my sister, for her little family. What if??? But we just can not think that way. We have to hold on to hope, until there is none to hold on to. Sadly our parents are not involved AT ALL, My nieces father, also not involved AT ALL.The only people my sister has had to depend on would be me, and friends. Some of those friends were complete strangers before this. Sadly, we have realized, When something devastating happens to you, the ones that say they love you, will be given the chance to show it, and the ones that do not, well, you will see them kick up dust. It has been heartbreaking not only to see sister and her daughter go through this, but added heart break to watch everyone walk away as though they are afraid they will catch this, like a cold. One may question, was it too much to bare? Regardless the pain hit hard. Having very few people to turn to, when your life is falling apart, can not be comforting. My sister was living with someone when my niece was diagnosed. At first he was all about helping and making sure she was going to get whatever she needed to fight this. But he too obviously found it hard to deal with, So sister was forced to find her and her daughters somewhere to live with no income. Thank God for people with big hearts..... Several weeks later, this man shot himself in the head in an attempted suicide, because he could not handle what he had done, by putting sister and her girls out on the street. His family called my sister to come be with him before he passed, in hopes she could pull him out of the coma he was in. She went. I stayed with my niece at the hospital during this time. Sister had to drive 3 hours there and 3 hours back. She stayed a very short time. She knew he was no longer there. 2 days later she received a call saying he was gone but the family did not want her a part of the funeral, because she was to blame. It seems it has just been one thing after another. Another thing I have learned is that cancer does not only affect the patient. It has an evil affect on everyone around. It brings devastation wherever it is. Though chemo is over, and life is getting somewhat back on track, Taiyas pain is so hard to manage. When she gets cold, her leg cramps. With the way the weather is in our area, with temps in the teens, she can barely stand the pain. She pushes herself to the limit. And with each push she has an even bigger smile than the one before. Her motto is Smile On ..... Please feel free to join Prayers for Taiya, because as you all know that has been affected with this, the fight is still on... Prayer, hope, and faith is what gets her through the bad days. That and her loyal mother....My sister.. ........ God Bless
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:19:07 +0000
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