R.I.P. Prima (cousin). You Remain In Our Hearts
By Libertad Carlos
To clarify the way this story is written, I wrote this story as if I was my cousin. This story is not accurate because I don’t know what exactly she wrote in her diary. However, it is very similar to her experience. I just wanted to use her story as a model to prove the importance of paying attention to your body. My cousin didn’t pay much attention to her bruises and continuous head-aches which was one of the reasons why we lost. She passed away due to her advanced Leukemia that wasn’t diagnosed until her last day with us. Leukemia is a malignant cancer of the blood and bone marrow; acute leukemia progresses quickly while chronic leukemia develops more slowly.
“Just five more minutes…” As I woke up to get ready to go to school I noticed a bruise on my leg, but I didn’t give it much attention. As I walked into school, my friend Yvonne walked toward me pointing out and asking me, “Wow! How did you get those bruises?”
Clueless of my bruises I asked “What bruises?”
“There on your left arm. Don’t they hurt?”
A bluish, size of a penny bruise was near my elbow and a bluish purplish, quarter size bruise was below my shoulder. As I observed my bruises I wondered how I got them. “I didn’t even know I had those bruises until now. I don’t know why, but I bruise really easy. I might just have sensitive skin. I went to the doctors the other day for my constant headaches and they said I had a Sinus infection.”
Yvonne relieved responses, “Really?! That’s it? I’m glad! So have your parents decided when you are leaving to San Jose?”
“Yeah, we are leaving in two days. I can’t wait. Last time I saw my cousin was when she came to visit her grandmother in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles, which is only like 20 minutes away, about six months ago.”
It’s Saturday morning. I am writing in my dairy, its 5:00 A.M. and we’re just leaving Pomona. Finally on our way to San Jose, I can’t wait to see everyone, especially my cousin Isabella and my Nina Maggie.
It’s 8:30 a.m. and I haven’t told my parents but I’ve had a headache for the past two hours. I am starting to get dizzy and I feel like throwing up. “Mom I don’t feel good.” As my mother recognizes my facial expressions, she immediately passes me a garbage bag, and I throw up. “I don’t feel good mom.”
“Hang in there, we will be there in about two hours.”
I knew I had to suck it up and wait so I took a nap. An hour and a half later I woke up pale and weak. I knew there was something wrong with me, but I kept it to myself.
My mom realizes I am not feeling good, touches my face to check if I had any fever. “Baby, what’s wrong? You still feel sick? Look at you. You’re pale. Here drink some water. We’ll be at your Nina’s house in half an hour.”
Gulp, gulp, gulp- I force myself to drink water. Boom, boom, boom-My headache gets worse.
Half an hour later we finally arrive to my cousin’s house. Now I feel ten times worse. I am dizzy with a headache, and my body feels weak. Once I hugged everyone, I went to the bathroom and threw up again.”Knock, knock.” I hear my mother knocking on the door. “Mija, are you ok?”
As I leaned on the toilet seat, I throw up. I begin to feel blood flowing down my lip and chin.
“Maggie! Hurry, come!” my mother yells.
“Mom, I don’t feel good. I . . .I . . . . my head really hurts mom.” I suddenly loose control of my body and I collapse to the floor.
Reahm, reahm, reahm! An ambulance brought me to the hospital where I was in coma. They did some studies and I was diagnosed with advanced Leukemia. I heard the doctor inform my parents that blood had rushed to my brain and there was nothing they could do. I don’t like to see my parents cry, but I knew there was nothing I could do. It’s time for me to leave. Now all I could do was be their guardian angel.
I wasn’t sure how my twin brother who stayed in Pomona, Los Angeles, would react to my death. He would feel guilty for not coming with us. My whole family was crying and there was nothing I could do. I didn’t want to leave them, but it was time.
I didn’t expect to have Leukemia. I wish I wouldn’t have refused to get a check-up. My frequent and severe headaches were symptoms of my cancer. As for my bruises that I never really knew how I got were also a symptom of Leukemia. I bruised easier than the majority of the people I knew, but I assumed it was normal to have “sensitive skin”. Plus, every time I had a headache I would drink Tylenol or Advil, and there problem solved.
But now here I am in heaven, where I will meet again with those I watch over.
I decided to share my cousin’s experience to give you a better understanding as to why you shouldn’t give little importance to “little things” like bruises, headaches, stomachaches, etc. Remembering it’s your body’s way of communicating and warning you, there is something wrong- don’t ignore it.
admin @ March 4, 2008