Teenage Cancer Trust blog: Part 2
Tuesday 25 March 2008
The Teenage Cancer Trust concerts are coming up in April and to highlight what a great cause they are funraising for, we've asked one teenage cancer patient to keep a blog over the last two years. Here we pick up Josie Lisle's amazing story
7th January 2008 – MOVING ON
I had a fantastic Christmas and found out there's a small chance I can have children again (because chemo sends you into an early menopause). I now sing for a band and am doing a CD to raise money for TCT. Unfortunately, I can't say that when I left and everything went back to normal and I haven't had to think about cancer again because it hasn't and I haven't. When I left that ward there was much more to come. I didn't suddenly have all the hair I had before, it's a long process, but I just had to make sure I made short hair a fashion statement!
Also, I had to learn that I no longer had the stamina I had before, so I couldn't always keep up with my friends like I used to (in more ways than one, with a leg that's always one step behind like mine, but hey the tortoise always wins the race [and he always makes sure I know about it too!]), There are still hospital visits and nerve racking x-rays to see if its back, but I use this as opportunity to see all my old ward friends because at the end of the day I know what they’re going through and how much I appreciated the company while I was there.
1st February – MORE SURGERY
Unfortunately, I've seen a little more of hospital than I hoped for recently as I've had infections in my leg and have to have more surgery in march, but that's the way it goes and I just have to remember to keep winning the fight.
27th February – LOOKING BACK
Over the past year I have seen many of my friends die of something I'm trying to fight, I've learnt what its like to be disabled (good parking!) and know how hard it must be for those in a wheelchair for their whole life, I've had to cope with losing some of my femininity (i.e. my hair) and strength physically, I have become prepared for the fact that I may be joining my Nanna sooner than I hoped, the pain I've felt has been immense both mentally and physically but also in the same year I've seen the amazing amount of kindness people can have, learnt that every second counts, found out what it means to have true friends who have stuck by every second of the journey, and I also now know what an incredible family I have and have done some incredible things that I wouldn't normally have done.
I do miss the ward and the many fun things we did in between the sleep and sick bowls. The pizza nights, wig catwalks, day time telly, and of course the many decorated drip stands, crutches and Zimmer frames!!!!
To donate to the Teenage Cancer Trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org