Here’s the next post in my ~*~ Beginnings ~*~ It’s where my life changed and began again. A realization kicked in as I approached my 9th birthday that Life Changes In A Moment.
Happy go lucky Suzie, had a great childhood in a wonderful small town where everyone knew everyone (many related to each other). I did ballet, tap, twirling and still had time to play with my friends and get the homework done. I was even the weather girl in the local newspaper hehehe just mood pictures of me to show if it was rainy or sunny.
Weather Girl Not A Fan Of Rai
Honestly, I don’t quite remember how it happened. It’s not that I haven’t asked, when you are young things sometimes just blur together. I don’t remember being tired, I can tell you what my 3rd grade classroom looked like but I can’t remember having to put my head down on the desk to rest. I remember the 3 flights of stairs up to that classroom but I don’t remember not being able to walk them. I remember the kids in my class, I remember going outside for gym, but I don’t remember not being able to play. I don’t even remember being in the doctor’s office.
I remember being in school, I remember laying on the ‘love seat’ in our living room watching someone pace in the dining room, I remember the phone ring. The next thing I remember is being in the car, Dad driving and mom upset. We’re on the George Washington Bridge and Dad’s banging the wheel cause the directions were bad.
(side note, do you know if you take the GWB on the lower level in the right lane, it takes you to the Deegan Expressway, which takes you to Yankee Stadium)
Dad says, I’ve never been able to get to Yankee Stadium and there it is, to which I said, that means we should go to the game Dad. We can’t , it’s January 😦
I don’t know how we got back on the right way, I remember being stuck at the light and the guy spitting on the windshield to wipe it off with newspaper for money. We parked the car in the lot and walk, I remember looking at the walk up to the hospital, I could never forget that, it seemed like the sidewalk went on forever and it was almost a severe angle on a mountain hill. Daddy carried me, with mommy walking next to us telling me it was going to be alright.
Trust me the angle of that hill was OMG steep
Asking Mom years later to fill in the blanks to kind of complete my memories, here’s what I was told. As stated I was in 3rd grade and a vibrant sparkly tomboy. Running and doing what I can always with the giggles. Suddenly, I couldn’t walk the stairs, I kept putting my head down on the desk and sitting out of gym. My teachers noticed, Mrs. Truncellito and Mrs. Elin specifically. They were having the yearly parent teacher meetings, my third grade teacher, Mrs. T pushed up my parents meeting. The day after that meeting mom had me at the pediatrician who ran some tests and told mom he thought he knew what it was. The phone ring that night I remember was Dr. Poch, my parents met with him and he sent me to Columbia Presbyterian / Babies Hospital.
I will write more about my experiences during my 14day stay at Babies Hospital.
For now I needed to tell this start of the story. This was the new beginning of my life when I turned 9 and found out I had Leukemia, A.L.L (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia).
I found my heroes in life during this time. Dad, Mom, My 3 Big Brothers, Mrs. T, Mrs. Elin and a few more. Don’t be sad for me, don’t ever be sad for me because I live through laughter and love. I have Hope and too many people in my corner fighting with me including those that are now my angels above! I AM a Survivor and I’m Fearless!
Life is meant to be lived, there really is a reason for everything. Plan for the future, for sure but Life Changes In An Instant, I’m living proof of that. Laugh as much as you can, Love as many people as you can, Sing and Dance always as though no one is looking, be Happy that you’ve woken up to a new day and Live Each Moment.
Suzanne ** Suzie ** SweetReds 