Peyton's Personal Story as a Cancer Survivor

My name is Peyton and on August 8, 2001 my life took a turn. At first it seemed it was a turn for the worst, but it turns out that the dreaded "C" word changed my life for the better. Someone who hasn't gone through cancer could probably never understand that so I will explain.

I was a normal 23 year old girl with big dreams. I was studying to be a nurse, and enjoyed working with my friends and going out on the town. It seemed I was just getting my life in order. I guess you could say I got a slow start in college. I enjoyed my social life more than I enjoyed my school schedule. It had taken me this long to discover what I wanted to be, and that was a nurse. What I didn't know was that I was going to get a first hand internship. I was diagnosed on August 8, 2001. It all happened so fast, I really didn't have time to think about what was happening. Within a week of finding out that I had a very rare pediatric cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma I was sent to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Not only did I have to face the fact that I was a stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma, I had to leave my home and my friends , but I was never alone.

I was overwhelmed and I still am at the amount of cards and letters and prayers that were sent my way. People I didn't even know were sending me cards. Upon my arrivel in NYC I spiked a fever and was admitted into the hospital on my first day there. My doctors told my family that they weren't sure if I was going to make it and that my older sister and brother should probably come to NYC. I just thought that they were there for support! I made it through that and through my first round of intensive chemotherapy. I was known as the girl who managed to get EVERY side effect! I even lost the use of my legs from severe nerve damage from my chemo's. I have since learned to walk again! I think that the hardest part of having cancer was watching my family go through it. My parents should not have had to watch their youngest daughter go through that. They call me their trooper. I guess I am a trooper. It took me a while to realize that having cancer was a kind of gift. Not many people my age value life the way I do. I have learned the value of good friends and family. I have learned that everyday is a gift from God. I have learned that life is what you make of it. I have learned that just when you think you can't go on another day you somehow manage to gather up the strength to suck it up and put one foot in front of the other and take the next step. I used to think about my sisters two kids Catherine and Ben. Everytime I wanted to just give up all I had to do was think about not seeing them grow up and I was given the strength to fight a little harder. Everyone needs a Catherine and a Ben to remind them to fight. After a year of chemo, radiation and several surgeries I am now cancer free and back in nursing school. I am planning to finish school and move back to NYC to work at Sloan in the same clinic where I was treated. Crazy huh? Nah- Cancer changed my life...for the better! I can't wait to work with other kids who are going through what I went through and what I still go through everyday. I think that finishing treatment is in someways harder than starting treatment. Everyday I deal with guilt from watching my friend not make it. I just remind myself that there is a reason I made it. My time on this earth isn't over, my job is not yet done. Not only am I going to be a nurse I am going to be a nurse who understands the pain, both physical and emotional, my patients will go through on their journey with cancer. What a gift!

Peyton D. in North Carolina
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