Cancer

I've heard that term more in the last year or so then I have in my whole life. I don't think it's very real to people until it affects them in some way. Quite a few years ago my great aunt had breast cancer. She was a wonderful woman that changed many lives. She was a principal at an alternative school that is now named after her. I don't remember how old I was when she died but I know I was probably not even in highschool at the time. It's been a while. She was a fun lady that laughed a lot but could also be stern(hence the principal thing) when she needed. She was very real and as long as you weren't being disrespectful or doing something stupid, you and her were gonna get along fine. I mostely remember when she had cancer because I don't remember too far before that. She wore a wig to cover her bald head, but wasn't afraid to walk around bald either. I remember when her sister-in-law jokingly put on the whig and the whole family burst out laughing. She did die of that cancer at a relatively young age and left behind her two wonderful sons and her husband who I think is the funniest old man ever. He has that thick west Texas accent and loves his grandchildren so much. Which brings me to current times. One of her grandbabies got the news she has cancer this week. She is 5 years old and has the cutest smile and red hair like her mama. She has level 4 cancer, which I've come to learn is pretty bad. It is neuroblastoma that is in her body cavity and stomach and is quite big. She started chemo today. I can't even imagine doing all that at age 5. My aunt (Note: not great aunt from before) got breast cancer last year and is finally done with all her surgeries. Apparently it runs in our blood, because my sister found out she has brain cancer this last thanksgiving and went into surgery in february. They didn't get it all and said they probably won't ever be able to remove it all. Like I said before, cancer is a far away concept until it affects you. Seeing family members go through a hard time seems to put a burden on your shoulders. It's a different type of burden, not the type you feel for friends. It has more weight to it for some reason. I was thinking about all this today as I sat down in my math class and the lady I always keep up with sits down next to me. We help each other with homework and assignments. She told me yesterday that she got bad news from the doctor but didn't explain what it was until today. She knew she had a lump on her thyroid but found out yesterday that she has one on her voicebox. She said it runs in her family and that she will probably lose her voice after surgery. The thing that broke my heart was that she said she is getting her degree in special education to teach but won't be able to do that if she loses her voice. She said, "what's the point in my education if I can't teach?" and I was sad to hear her dreams smashed. I am praying that she will retain her voice through it all and live out her dream. She has a child with special needs and wants to help him. I felt like cancer slapped me in the face today. Well I'm happy to say that my aunt has pretty much beaten it from my understanding and I want to see all my relatives beat it.