A Letter to My 11-Year-Old Self
Tom, like many 17-year-olds, is a senior in high school, ready and excited to start his first year of college in September. Unlike many 17-year-olds, Tom was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, at the age of 11. Missing school, multiple surgeries, and facing the difficult decision whether or not to keep his leg were just a few of the challenges that he would face during his treatment.
Looking back, Tom has come to realize that he’s learned a lot over the past six years. If he could reach back out to his 11-year-old self, this is the advice he would give.
A Letter to My Past
Dear Tom,
I’m sure you don’t understand what is going on or the words you’re hearing from the doctors, but what it all means is that the next few years are going to be a long road filled with highs and lows.
The physical battle with cancer will be brutal, surgery and chemotherapy will bring lots of pain and sickness, and your battle with cancer will be a winding road with many bumps and potholes.
Cancer treatment and surgeries will result in long periods of time spent laying down and resting, the opposite of what an athlete like you wants. Chemotherapy has many side effects, the worst of which is pure fatigue after treatments. The time in between treatment is just enough to begin to regain some energy before repeating this cycle.
Remember all the people you meet and treasure the time you have with them. Value the relationships you have with those people, they will keep you motivated to continue exercising, graduate from high school, and even get accepted into college.
Know that there are always people eager to support you. Lean on your peers. The people you will meet are some of the greatest people in the world. After you’ve gone through your journey you will know what it means to lose someone you care about, and when you feel that, you will understand truly how much your friends mean to you.
So get ready, the next six years of your life are going to be harder than you can ever imagine but know that you will come out on the other side a stronger, more resilient, person with an appreciation for life many people will never understand.
Sincerely,
Tom
Today, Tom supports other teens going through cancer with his participation in Children’s Cancer Association’s Young Adult Alliance (YAA). Together, these teens are sharing their experiences in a way that will improve the lives of teens and young adults just like them.