In 2011, at the age of 17, I was diagnosed with sarcoma. I had a tumor in my left leg, which was removed and, after going through treatment, I was in remission for nine years. Unfortunately, the tumor I had in my left leg returned and I once again underwent treatment. The recovery this time was tough because I couldn’t use my left foot without a brace. I would trip and fall often, and I couldn’t run, stand or walk long distances, or lift anything heavy. Through this painful time, I forced myself to work because I no longer qualified for SSI benefits. The jobs I took were arduous on my body, and after four years of this, I once again started feeling a lot of pain in my left leg. During this time, I had no access to medical insurance, so I was forced to ignore the pain and continue working, as I knew I couldn’t afford the hospital bill to get my leg checked. The pain continued to worsen and I reached out to my social worker who helped me with absolutely everything. Thanks to her help, I received all the help I needed to get an MRI and several tests done. I received the news that the cancer returned in my left leg, which I had been putting through extensive physical work. Following this, in December 2024, I got my left leg amputated. I am currently recovering, but it is the worst pain I have experienced.
I’m now getting the pain under control little by little thanks to the doctors and nurses who are helping me with pain management, and I am looking forward to continuing physical therapy and recovering.
Josue’s LifeList:
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A family trip
- A new gaming system
- Shoes
- Clothes