For about two months now, one of my students kept updating me on her health issue. Two weeks ago, she was diagnosed with cancer.
You never know how to react or what to say when someone comes up to you and tells you they have cancer. She stayed back after class one day and told me she’d be missing the next class for a doctor’s appointment. They had discovered lumps and masses in her breasts and were required to do some more tests to assess the condition. “Oh” was all I could say. She’s only 18, for crying out loud. I told her to take care, and I hoped that it wouldn’t be malignant. She sent me an email that weekend telling me that the doctor’s visit went well, however, they needed to do a CT scan. An essay was due the next day. She sent her essay in time, right after the scan. It is remarkable how she tried (and managed) to send everything in the middle of hospital visits. The scan revealed more masses; they seemed to be spreading. She had to undergo surgery the week after. All this, she’d email me and say, “Keep me in your prayers”.
She’s a good kid. Humble, smart, got As in my class, and she’s really sweet. My heart broke when she told me that the tumors were malignant and that she’d have to get chemo now so she can’t make it for the final exam day. She asked for a hug because that was going to be the last day I would see her (it was the last day of college).
Even now, she sends me emails to keep me updated.