Making Your Darkest Days Feel Bright
My upbringing was rough. My dad was in and out of my life and my mother wasn't too sure on how to be a mother. My grandmother, alongside with my grandfather, did a lot of my raising. On top of absentee parents I also was in special education services. I was labeled AU (high performing autism) and LD (learning disabled), on top of those I was in speech services as well. I was picked on constantly in school and as I continued to grow in age my body begin to grow chunky and awkward. By age 11 I was over weight and lethargic all the time, but age 12 I could barely manage to move without winding myself. My father had summer custody when he decided to take me into the doctor to see why I had no energy.
We found out that I had leukemia and I was assigned to Dr. Lazarus. I was in bad condition and needed extensive care. I went through years of treatments, chemotherapy, and spinal taps. I lost my hair - twice. I lost my self especially for a preteen/teen. I lost my friends. And my mother basically abandoned me during the days to her mother - my grandmother. Life was bleak, so bleak that I begin to contemplate suicide.
This is where Make-A-Wish came in. They told me to pick 3 things I would love to do and they'd try their best to get one of my wishes granted. I wished to go a cruise and within months it was booked. I sailed to Mexico, Jamaica, and the Grand Caymans. It was amazing and it lifted my spirits enough to fight the rest of my fight.
I am now 16 years cancer free. I have my bachelor's in elementary education and my master's in educational technology. I am currently working on my PhD in special education.
Who inspires me? Make-A-Wish. Why? Because they take a child's worst nightmare, their darkest days, and does their best to make them even just a little bit brighter.
Review from #MyGivingStory