When I was 8 I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that primarily affects children. Tumors were removed from my spine. 6 weeks later I was back on the baseball field, winning the all-star game. This cycle (discovery of tumors, surgery, quick recovery) was repeated again when I was 9. When I was 11, we discovered 4 additional tumors. This time, surgery was ruled out & I was enrolled in an experimental round of chemo, radiation & additional therapies. Around that age is when I first started to see children die. The kids who I'd see in the jimmy fund, getting treated. They looked like me, then they looked thinner, and then they died. By 13 I was cancer free, but starting to deal with serious nerve damage. I began to use a wheelchair. Idk why but I found this post touching: reading, researching is powerful. Most powerful of all is simply hope. Don't give up, none of those kids did. I didn't!