I was diagnosed this past summer, when I was participating in a summer research program. I spent my days in the lab and spending time with the friends I made from my cohort. We spent hours a day on walks and going to the gym, and our weekends were filled with fun activities like kayaking in the area. This was why it was very strange to me when I began to tire easily and developed a sharp pain in my neck and shoulder. I took myself to the university health services, but was unfortunately sent home with pain meds and an exo-skeletal injury diagnosis. Two weeks passed, and the pain had still not dwindled, and oddly my watch had alerted me that my heart rate was exceptionally high (194-202 bpm) when I wasn’t even exercising. I woke up the following morning drenched with sweat and a pit in my stomach, so I took myself to the emergency room. There, it was hours before I finally got the diagnosis. All alone at 20 years old, only two weeks away from finishing my research and going home, I found out that I have T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Since then, my parents have uprooted their lives to support me through my treatment, and I have gone through induction chemo and part of consolidation.
Farah’s LifeList:
-
New laptop and iPad