82309
My name is Ashley. I’m 23 years old. I graduated a year and a half ago from the University of Oregon with a degree in Advertising and a minor in Business. Since graduating, I’ve worked in the kitchen at two mediocre restaurants, backpacked through Europe, undergone minor ankle surgery, taken up odd end jobs for my parents, written a lot, created an art portfolio, run a couple of half marathons, and I've begun collaborating with some new friends to make music (I sing). Currently, I’ve taken up a part time secretarial job at an industrial food brokerage. It pays twelve bucks an hour, so, I’m living at home with my parents. But––even if I had the means to move out on my own, I’m not sure I would. That would mean my parents would have to do everything alone that needs to get done around the house, in their jobs and in other side projects their involved with.
My mom is a newly retired teacher of thirty years, but she’s essentially working full time for free for a foundation she started about five years ago. She is also in the midst of fighting the greatest battle of her life––ovarian cancer. There are good days and bad days. The past couple of months have been very trying as the cancer has decided to birth a couple of tumors not on her ovaries. One is on her colon and the other is in between two vertebrae on her spine. She’s been taking pain meds to suppress the pain. Unfortunately, the pain-killers are also suppressing her appetite. She’s so tiny and fragile now. It’s been nearly five years since her diagnoses. She’s gone into remission twice and had two reoccurrences. This latest reoccurrence has lasted for over a year now.
There is a saying within the cancer community, “I have cancer, cancer does not have me.” Well… though I try to keep this thought at the forefront of my mind, and though I literally don’t have cancer, I still can’t help but sometimes feel like cancer does have me.
No comments:
Post a Comment