When I was 10, I had just moved to a new city and was acclimating to my new life when I suddenly started experiencing headaches. They were dull and not especially painful, but they were constant and quickly became a daily experience. I loved my new school and my new friends, and I became so active in my community with sports and clubs that it was concerning to my parents when I began missing school and other events. Over the course of several months, I was in and out of urgent care where I was diagnosed with migraines and told that I should stop missing school. Eventually, my headaches progressed into blurry, then double vision. I was taken to the ophthalmologist where they saw swelling on my optic nerve. I was transferred to the ER pretty quickly after that and had an MRI of my head. They saw frontal lobe swelling, midline shift, and lesions. I was then taken to the ICU where I was started on steroids and other medications. At this point, no one knew what was causing the brain abnormalities, and they decided that exploratory brain surgery was the best option. Fortunately, before I was taken to the operating room, someone suggested a full-body MRI first. After that scan, they finally saw the tumor in my chest. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on February 1, 2012. I then started with surgery, had my port placed, and quickly began treatment soon after. I was transferred to the pediatric unit and spent my first round of chemotherapy there. In total, I had spent close to four weeks in the hospital.
Through all of this, I tried my best to be strong, to accept the doctors’ plans and tests, and to endure all the needles and medications. It wasn't until I was told I would lose my hair that it finally felt real, and I cried. My hair started falling out pretty quickly after leaving the hospital. Most patients and survivors know that feeling of watching clumps of hair fall out in the shower, and it just feeling so real. I shaved my head soon after coming home.
Moving forward, I began my monthly rounds of chemo in the hospital and spent my remaining days at home and in bed. Fortunately, one of the teachers at my elementary volunteered to home-school me several days a week so I didn't fall too far behind. Some days we were at the table learning states and capitals and others I was lying on the couch, and she would read on the floor beside me. I appreciate her for allowing me some normalcy, a schedule, and a routine that best fit my capabilities that changed daily.
After several months, I completed my last round of chemotherapy and was declared in remission. It was such a joy to go back to school, see all my friends, and get back to a normal middle school routine. My cancer journey was such an intense situation at such a young age that I never really gave myself time to cope properly until years later. As of today, I have taken the time to reflect and understand my situation, to find my identity and what it means to be a cancer survivor. It has been a long journey, but I want to dedicate my time to assisting others who may be in similar situations. I have volunteered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for over a year and have met some really great people, and I hope to continue to make an impact in the lives of others.
Kendra
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)
