I was spending the summer in California with family, working at the community center.  On July 4th, 5 days before my 16th birthday, I woke up with a stiff neck.  We went to the local parade, a big deal in this town, and the pain was getting worse.  Later in the day, the pain traveled to my shoulder and became intense.  My Aunt and Uncle decided to take me to the E.R.  Few hours and a few tests later at Oakland Childrens Hosital, the doctors came back and told me and my Uncle I had Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.  I remember thinking to myself, is that Cancer?

A few days later, I developed a blood clot on my spine, we think due to a falty spinal tap.  I had emergency back surgery, which left me paralyzed from the waist down, and they did not know if and how much mobility i would regain.  Long story short, after a year of intense P.T., i went from a wheelchair, to walker to back to "normal."  Had to fight this while at the same time undergoing aggresive chemotherapy and radiation treatment.  Because of my immobility, i remained in California for a month before coming back home to NY to be treated.  I missed my whole junior year of High School while being treated and continuing my P.T.  Besides dealing with Leukemia, and the prospect of death, as an athlete, i was simply devasted to think i might never play sports again.

Fast forward a few years, mostly filled with hip, leg and knee pain, it was determined that my hips were shot from the steroids and chemo and that i needed a bi-lateral hip replacement, at the ripe age of 22.  To date, this avascular necrosis, or bone death, is the most severe late effect i have had to deal with...and its a doozy.  I think my hips are beginning to show signs of wear and i fear having them replaced again.  I also have AVN in my shoulders, which are pretty bad, but I don't have to walk on those and deal with the pain.  I got reallly into golf in the last two years, and have been mountain biking since my hip surgery.  Doctor advises non-impact sports!

My more miraculous story is that I was able to have two beautiful children naturally, which i did not think would happen.  So having a loving family goes a long way in terms of happiness!!!

Continuing to live life as a cat with nine lives, i was also hit by a SUV while biking about 5 years ago.  A B*%tch blew a stop sign, sent me on the roof of her car, off the windshield, in the air, and back to the ground.  Somehow, i only came away with a hernaited disc and neck pain for life.  She got off with maybe an increased car insurance premium.  How is life fair??  I guess I am lucky because my toddler son had wanted to ride with me on the toddler seat on back of the bike.  That seat was badly damaged, like my cracked hemlet.  Somehow, my hips were ok.

 That's my story in a nutshell.  Always love to speak with other survivors and am always amazed how much worse others have had it too!!! And overcome it!  I have always felt i have been through some tough tough battles.  And i recently got a tattoo to always remember it.  Tattoo is of a crab wrapped in a ribbon.  Crab symbolizes cancer as well as my birth sign which is also Cancer, and the gold ribbon is for childhood cancer. 

Within me, it also recognizes my mothers defeat of breast Cancer and my fathers loss of life to Pancreatic Cancer, 11 years ago.  I did however get married is his bedroom while he was on hospice, so he could see that happen.