A Childhood Interrupted

I had cancer when I was three years old. It was awful. The medicine made everything taste like metal, my hair fell out, and I couldn’t do normal kid things. Instead of going to the park or getting ice cream, I spent most of my time sitting in a dull hospital room, bored and confused. Some days were better than others. Sometimes my siblings came to visit, or I was allowed to leave the hospital for a few hours and feel almost normal. Other days I felt a little stronger. But even on the good days, it was never easy, and it was never pleasant.

It wasn’t only hard on me. It was hard on my whole family. My parents were constantly worried about my health, while also trying to care for my brother and sister and keep up with work so they could pay the bills. I imagine it felt like being trapped in a room that kept getting smaller, with no clear way out. Everything felt overwhelming and tangled, like one big, rotten mess.

Chai Lifeline was one of the organizations that helped my family get through those difficult years. They brought us meals when my parents were too exhausted to cook. They came to visit me in the hospital so I wasn’t always alone. When my mom needed to be in two places at once, at my bedside and at home, Chai Lifeline made sure my siblings were cared for and supported. During a time when everything felt heavy and uncertain, they helped hold our family together.