9 year survivor testimony.

quackchicken
quackchicken Member Posts: 4
Hello, I am new here. This is a very painful topic for me to discuss, but I need to practice for a testimony I will be doing at my church. When I was 15 in 2007 I had it all going for me..I was young, funny, full of life, and had many friends to hang out with. I had decided to set an affrimation for my sophomore year; I was goig to be social with everyone, be POSITIVE, be engaging, come out of my comfort zone, and do my best with my grades. I knew it was going to be a school year to remember, for the summer of 2007 was completely astouding, (the best time period of my life). I went to more concerts in the year 2007 than any teenager would ever accomplish. I saw Killswitch Enagage, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Circa Survive, Saosin, Chiodos, Emery, Pierece the Veil, Cry of the affilcted, The Human Abstract, Dream Teather, National Product, Lorene Drive, The Graduate, Alexisonfire, and many more! I was talking to about 7 girls, and two of which I would think of for the better part of the last decade. (They were the only girls I had ever truly connected with.) I had just started playing guitar, and I was killing it! I learned about 6 Red Hot Chili Peppers songs, a few Incubus tunes, and mastered the Fade To Black solo by Metallica. The year of 2007 would be what I thought; the last stop on the roller coaster of my emotional wreck of a life post cancer. When I first started having symptoms, it was due to what I attribute to riding a rough wooden roller coaster. The impacts of the wooden rails and turns would dislodge the tumor in the center of my brain, and would cause emotional disturbances to start. After the first semester I would see the world differently. I would feel paranoid, alienated, worthless, and depressed. I had never think I would experience these feelings, for a month before I was having the time of my life. How could my life take such a dark turn so fast?! It didnt matter, the solution was clear after 2 1/2 months of mental anguish; I would see a mental health professional. Upon seeing him for the first time I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I was placed on strong medicine in an attempt to manage the symptoms, but the opposite occurred. My symptoms were thrown into full force, and my future seemed dim. I was experiencing a full blown mental breakdown for 5 months at this point, and at this point I ended up in a hospital for at risk teens. Little did I was know this was the first intervention God had planned for me. After a day, a nurse shined a flashlight to see if my pupils would constrict. They stayed wide open; so I was rushed to a hospital to see if the problem was due to neurological issues. After a few tests I was ordered an MRI. Afterwards, that night my parents received n urgent phone call from the doctor. He informed them I had a mass in the center of my brain...With my family in complete shock, I was taken to UTMB in Galveston, TX. After many more tests, I was placed inline for a brain biposy. Before this surgery, I was surround by family and friends. This would be a paramount moment in my life. One I would look back on for the next 6 years, for I felt I would ever have caring friends again. The surgery went perfectly;I was blessed by another intervention fro the lord almighty. My surgeon had just returned from a trip to India, and he was a phenomenal brain surgeon; he used a rare technique at the time. One that would limit the intrusion, and scaring! I was taken under and after 6 hours, i was taken back to my family. Afterwards, it was made known that i had brain cancer. I knew it would be a looong road ahead of me, but strangely I was calm, and not upset or reacting at all for the severity of the situation. Another sign that God had his grace around me. I was then blessed enough to be admitted to MD Anderson. A place that i still identify as a second home. It is said that a place where a teengaer spends most of his time is related to their image and memory of their adolescence. I would have this hospital as a relationship to these identifications. I met my oncologist, Doctor Wollfe. A pleasant, and medical genius. Another person placed in my place to recovery. I was shown my treatment plan; 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and 30 round of radiation to the middle of my brain. Now lets fast forward a bit; the treatment started, and then God fully reavealed himself to me. After the first round of chemo the lime sized tumor in the middle of my brain vanished! Unheard of! What would result after the miracle we all witnessed, would be the rest of the treatment; and after effects. After all of the treatment I was left feeling an unknown snese of self. I forgot my identity. This was the worst part. I wanted to talk soooo bad. However, the treatment left my neurons fried. My social life dissolved, and my personality vanished. I was left alone for the next 7 years. I would try to step out of my comfort zone for awhile, but the aggavation was result in emotional breakdown everytime I was around people. My faith disappeared, and I identified as an agnostic. This would be a huge mistake. This would magnify these issues ten fold. Yet I had no idea of this, for I was so aggravated I felt there was reason to try to find a belief system. I was simply indifferent. This would last until 1 month ago when I was baptized by a wonderful friend at my current location, (Texas State University). Skipping forward to this miraculous past 9 months. God guided me here and I was accepted to Texas State upon applying. I was placed in an amazing apartment, environment, and I have grown so much so fast! God has been AMAZING to me. My advice to you is to never take anything for granted. Live life everyday, and prosper as much as possible. If your read this mountain of words I thank you! I hope you felt inspired from my story. THANK YOU.

Comments

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    Quackchicken

    I am so glad that you made it through some very tough times with God's grace! You know that God has a plan for your young life! I hope and pray that you find joy in every day. Congratulations on being in college and in wanting to share your testimony. Thank you for sharing. I hate to see such a young person have to deal with so much. Yes, you have made a difference in telling your story here. You see, I have already been treated and cured of another cancer. Six years cancer free and now I have Breast Cancer and I have been trying to decide whether I could go through chemo and radiation again. Now, I read that you, at such a young age, went through hell. Sometimes I forget that I am in God's hands.  You have reminded me to keep the faith. God Bless you and stay well!

     

  • quackchicken
    quackchicken Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2017 #3
    HapB said:

    Quackchicken

    I am so glad that you made it through some very tough times with God's grace! You know that God has a plan for your young life! I hope and pray that you find joy in every day. Congratulations on being in college and in wanting to share your testimony. Thank you for sharing. I hate to see such a young person have to deal with so much. Yes, you have made a difference in telling your story here. You see, I have already been treated and cured of another cancer. Six years cancer free and now I have Breast Cancer and I have been trying to decide whether I could go through chemo and radiation again. Now, I read that you, at such a young age, went through hell. Sometimes I forget that I am in God's hands.  You have reminded me to keep the faith. God Bless you and stay well!

     

    Astonsihing! I can believe I

    Astonsihing! I can believe I did it; but how quick! Thank you for the kind words! God is true, and remember stay strong, stay positive, stay solid, but most of all stay connected to christ!

  • Veruby
    Veruby Member Posts: 1

    Astonsihing! I can believe I

    Astonsihing! I can believe I did it; but how quick! Thank you for the kind words! God is true, and remember stay strong, stay positive, stay solid, but most of all stay connected to christ!

    Amen!

    Amen!

    I'm  3 years in the making.  Glioblastoma grade 4. (Named her Dory, for i really have Dory moments lol) Keep the Faith for our God is definitely real.  Many blessing.  Enjoy each and every moment in your life...the good the bad and the ugly. Lol jk. Have a blessed day. Innocent

  • quackchicken
    quackchicken Member Posts: 4
    Thanks for the good vibes

    Thanks for the good vibes Veruby! Wishing you the best! God bless