Cancer in her own words: 

In May of 2008, eleven-year-old Megan was diagnosed with leukemia. She immediately started treatment at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview. Here is her story in her own words:

“I had been sick with some weird things off and on for a couple months. I was really tired, and I didn’t want to go to school (and I LOVE school). Then I developed this cough that sounded like barking.  Finally, I went to our clinic to figure out what was wrong!  They did an x-ray which had some weird things on it, and took some blood.  My white blood cell count was 12 times the normal number! I had leukemia.

When I was first admitted to the hospital, we discovered that the cough I had was from the lymph nodes in my chest pressing on my airway.  It was not safe to put me under for surgery or treatments until that swelling went down. I was taking a steroid to do that but it was working slower than the docs wanted it to, and they wanted to get a sample of my spinal fluid to measure before I had too much chemo.  So my doctor asked about doing a spinal tap on me without anesthesia, and I decided to go ahead with that. There are not many grown ups who would do that, and the whole floor was talking about me afterwards. I didn’t cry, but it did hurt.

I also needed chemo. I have had oral chemo (pills – which I hate) and intravenous chemo, which is put in through the port that was put into my chest. That makes it so much easier, because I only have to get poked once, as they can take blood, give meds, chemo, fluids, all through the same line.

I had to leave school because chemo makes you lose your white blood cells which are the ones that fight germs, and schools are full of germy kids! It made me feel really tired and yucky. I did get to see a tutor a couple times, but really my school year ended when I learned I had leukemia. I hated that day.

My Kitty pillow helps me get through my treatments. She has been my friend since I was one! I feel so much better when Kitty is with me. She comes to all my clinic visits too!

I haven’t been able to move forward just yet, as I am still in the middle of my treatment. But I am looking forward to school and doing things normally again.

Because of this experience, I want to help find a cure for other kids. I want to help by telling my story that might help raise funds for research and for patient assistance.”

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