I am not going to start this letter with "dear" because you are not dear to me. Living with hydrocephalus, has not been an easy journey.
Although you came into my life when I was only three weeks old when I had 10 surgeries before the age of one, the doctors weren't sure if I was going to make it or not, I won the battle. You did not appear in my life again until I was 13 years old, when I began having headaches and did not know what was wrong. I tried to cover up my pain and not give in to you, but I could not risk losing my life over you. In 2010, after you hounded me with countless surgeries, I came out winning again. You gave another four years of a great life, but you again appeared in 2014, which was the most difficult time in my life.
After many hospital stays in January, May, June, October and December of 2014, I often sat in my room asking, "Why Me?" Why was I given this disease? I looked around at all my friend's lives, everyone having fun, yet mine consisted of sitting in a hospital bed in pain. You tried cheating me out of celebrating my 18th birthday in the hospital, but I have to say it was one my favorite birthdays. All of my family, friends, co-employees and teachers all came together, making it one of the best. I can finally say that you haven't caused me any problems since February of this year, and I can say happily say that I am headache free!
Although you tried to fight me, I won all the battles that we fought. In the end, you made me the person that I am today. All the pain you put me through paid off in the end because you gave me the opportunity to be granted a wish from Make A Wish foundation. I was able to go on a Norwegian Cruise with family. I had a wonderful time relaxing by the pool, going to the beach, swimming with the dolphins and going to many of the shows. It was such an amazing trip and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to accomplish many of the things on my bucket-list. This was truly a wish of a lifetime.
If I hadn’t gotten sick as a baby and had the many surgeries that I did, I would not be as strong as I am today. I want to share my story with people at Adelphi to show them that although we all have our rough patches in life, something positive will come out of it. We are all part of a wonderful community here at Adelphi where there are many people who are open to talk to about anything. “Out of every negative comes a positive.” My goal in life is to become a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurse. My dream has always been to work in a hospital with children, because I can relate to them and will be able to comfort them when they are scared. Throughout my journey over the past 18 years, I have become a more positive and stronger person.
Sincerely,
Find a cure for my disease
