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Family Matters A Survivor's Story of Hope Hello readers, My name is Daniel Cardoso and at age six, I was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare and highly aggressive form of brain cancer. While there were many things that supported my road to recovery, the most important one to me was my family. We first noticed something was amiss around Christmas when I was five. I started complaining of headaches and the symptoms got worse over time. Despite multiple types of medical tests (blood tests, CT scans and X-rays, to name a few), a cause was never discovered. However, shortly after my sixth birthday, my parents noticed that I was covering one eye to read. When they asked me about it, I replied that it was because I was seeing double. One visit to the optometrist revealed swelling behind my eyes. An MRI confirmed the cause was a brain tumour. Without my parents' dedication to finding the source of my symptoms, the cause would have likely never been discovered. During treatment, there were long stretches of time (days, weeks, sometimes months) spent in the hospital, and if it were not for my parents’ constant love and support, I doubt I would be here today. My mother and father would spend as much time with me as they could and do their best to ensure that I was always in good spirits and never gave up hope. My parents weren't the only family to help me in my time of need. Throughout elementary school, I was mocked and ridiculed by most of the other children because of my illness. They labelled me as an outcast or a freak. My younger brother was always quick to step in and defend me whenever I was in need. I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through it all without him. I am extremely thankful for my family and all the others who supported me on my road to recovery. For anyone who has ever had to deal with this disease we call cancer, just remember that no matter how hard things may seem, no matter how rough things may get, you are never truly alone. |
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