I’m A Survivor!
Like most survivors, Lillie* wants to share her story of overcoming childhood cancer to encourage and motivate others who face life’s tough challenges.
I’ve learned young overcomers have much wisdom – we would do good to listen and learn.
* Her real name, used with permission.
“It all started the summer I was seven. I was playing games with my younger sister and noticed how tired I was, which was very unlike me. It even felt like I had the flu.”
Lingering Troubles
A few weeks before Thanksgiving of that year, Lillie now 8 years old, wrecked her motorized Jeep. Banged up with bruises and a nose bleed were the results. However, her bruises from the accident would not fade. She continued to get nose bleeds for the next several weeks. Those lingering troubles, combined with aches in her shoulders and jaws, caused her mother (who incidentally worked at the Blood Bank) to wonder if something more was wrong.
In early December of that year, Lillie underwent extensive blood work at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Because leukemia cells were found in her blood, her doctor diagnosed her with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Three big and scary words for an 8 year old.
Her oncologist was upfront with her family: “This is going to be a long process. It will be confusing. I’m afraid she can’t play sports for a while.”
Lillie had never seen her father cry until then. Thoughts of how her beloved grandfather lived with the right side of his body paralyzed from a stroke made her scared of what would soon be happening to her. But Lillie was not alone – her family loved, strengthened, and supported her.
Answered Prayer
Her chemotherapy at the hospital started shortly after her diagnosis. During those few weeks in the hospital, Lillie shut down and didn’t want to talk about her illness. Writing in her journal gave her a place to get away from her illness and all that came with it.
Lillie knew if she couldn’t talk about her fears with her family, she could always reach out to God. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked Him.
A little child with faith, asking a BIG question of a BIG God.
He answered her prayer. “It’s for My purpose. I allowed it to happen, so you can share your story with the world.” As she continued her treatments, she began to feel more assured. “I realized that if I was going to share my story, then I was going to survive.”
Lillie was able to go home for Christmas to celebrate with her family, but her chemo treatments continued.
Make A Wish
During those months of treatment, Lillie struggled. She often told herself, “Keep your head up and push through.” She knew on her crappy days she had to take care of herself – give in to the need for sleep and focus on getting better. And on her good days, she tried to do the things she enjoyed. “I learned that if you don’t have the bad days, you won’t really appreciate the good days.”
The following April, Lillie’s mom was approached about entering Lillie in a beauty pageant for children with illnesses and disabilities. Even though all her hair hadn’t grown back, Lillie was awarded Miss Princess of Hope for 2005 because she exemplified beauty despite her illness.
(Lillie continues to be involved with Pageants of Hope as she enjoys fundraising for the organization and being a mentor to young ladies who enter the pageants.)
In May of 2005, Lillie and her family enjoyed a trip to Disney World which was sponsored by the Make A Wish Foundation. Her family enjoyed every moment in the Magic Kingdom, but the best celebration was to say goodbye to her chemotherapy treatments. Because the doctors were thrilled with her progress and she was doing better than they expected, they ended her chemotherapy. Leukemia cells were no longer appearing in her blood!
I’m A Survivor!
On her 5 year cure date in 2010, Lillie exclaimed, “I’m a Survivor!” Her realization that if she was going to share her story then she would survive had come true.
Lillie still goes for her survivorship checkups once a year. Those walks down the halls of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are no longer scary; rather, they continue to affirm the truth that she is a survivor.
What Now?
Lille recently graduated from high school and has already moved into her college dorm room. I wanted to know about her plans for the future. “It all points back to my cancer.”
She was deeply impacted by a hospital social worker who shaved her head to honor young cancer patients. Her sacrifice encouraged and inspired Lillie. The camp counselors and nurses during her summers at Camp Sunshine encouraged her and helped her stay strong during her fight. Those men and women poured love, encouragement, hope and strength into Lillie.
She wants to follow in their footsteps of helping children who are ill by studying psychology while in college. She knows first hand how important caring people are in the lives of young people who are fighting to survive.
Best wishes to you, Lillie! I believe you will definitely impact the lives of young people.
