What am I Thankful For?

By:Angelina Dorsagno 6th. Grade Albany

Elementary school Utica, NY

This year I am thankful for not relapsing of cancer. I am thankful for this because I have been fighting neuroblastoma since I was 4 years old. Now that I am 11 years old I really understand how life threatening cancer can be. The first surgery I had was on the left side of my abdomen. This happened because I had a tumor connected to my left kidney, during the surgery an intern nicked my left kidney and it ended up failing and I was left with one kidney. The doctors ended up removing the tumor but I was left with only my right kidney. I had to live in the hospital for about 1 year. After being there for a couple months there was some troubles and I flatlined. My step father prayed and prayed and in that moment I awoke from the dead.

At this time I am about 6 years old and cancer free I went to go get my monthly check up and they found a tumor on the left side of my neck. Fortunately they were able to remove it safely but I still had to over go Chemo again and other types of medication. I also had to have a wire connected to the incision. After a few months I had to get radiated treatment. They had to make a clay like mask to fit my head. With that I went through a couple months of treatment. Eventually I was cancer free but I still had to get monthly scans.

When I was about 9 years old I had monthly visits to New York City to get treatment that specialized in Neuroblastoma. One visit the doctors decided to scan my body to make sure I was still cancer free. They ended up finding a tumor resting on top of my penvis. They were able to remove it with no complications although I had to stay in the hospital with no appetite. After having cancer the 3rd time my doctor informed me that he believed that all the times I relapse was left over from the original time.

Now I am 11 years old and I have been cancer free for a few years I had another check up and they found I had a blockage through the way of my right kidney to my bladder most likely from radiation damage. They wanted to keep a close eye on it place a stent and a tube connected to my right side to collect my urine hoping that would help. If it didn’t heal I had limited options such as a surgery called a bladder reconstruction if that didn't work I would need a kidney transplant. Basically they would move my bladder up closer to my kidney and place a stent. I also had to have a catheter to help collect urine so it does not block the way from my kidney.

Now that I am healthy I have begun to think about what Neuroblastoma has took from me from the past 7 years.This horrible disease has made me miss preschool, and miss more days of school then I can count. I wish cancer didn't exist because 100,000 kids die each year from cancer.