Carin's StoryCarin versus CML Lance Armstrong, Cancer Survivor As she stepped off the curb to cross the street she fell forward and collapsed on the cold, wet pavement. Friends gasped as they quickly reached down to grab her hands and help her back to her feet. They hadn't realized that Carin's leg had snapped at the knee. Carin was 15 years old when she was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma (bone cancer). Most little girls only had to worry about their hair, makeup and boys. Carin now had to cope with 12 rounds of chemotherapy and the loss of her leg. Fast forward to 2003. Carin has overcome. She’s married, working, enjoying life and she’s using her fourth prosthetic leg. One fine day while she’s sitting on the patio she notices something out of the corner of her eye. “Just a particle in the air,” she thinks. The “air particles” became more prevalent and persistent. On top of this strange phenomenon, she noticed that she gets bruises very easily so once again it’s back to the doctor’s office. By now Carin was accustomed to being poked, prodded and generally worked over by doctors and nurses. A bone marrow sample was taken to the labs for analysis and Carin waited for the result. The results came a few days later and unfortunately, the news was not good. Carin now had Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Carin versus Cancer again. Tears were shed and dishes were broken. “Why me?” she asked. “Isn’t losing my leg enough?” There are no answers forthcoming, only sympathy and love which is lavished upon her from friends and family. Her faith was tested and she considered whether or not God really exists. Life continues on. Work was more monotonous than ever. People got on her nerves more often and she found less patience for the world and everything in it. |