IN THE SUMMER OF 2005, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH OVARIAN CANCER. I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, ABOUT TO TURN 16, AND I WENT THROUGH MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN THEIR WHOLE LIFE.
MY NAME IS EVA. AND I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES WHO WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE CANCER EARLY ENOUGH TO GET RID OF IT BEFORE IT SPREAD.
IN JUNE 2005, I WAS IN TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOR TWO WEEKS; IN THOSE TWO WEEKS I TOOK EVERY KIND OF TEST YOU COULD THINK OF; AND I HAD MY FIRST SURGERY TO REMOVE THE TUMOR WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO ONE OF MY OVARIES SO, I ONLY HAVE ONE OVARY BUT IT'S OKAY; ONE IS ENOUGH. AFTER MY TWO WEEKS SPENT IN THE HOSPITAL, I WENT HOME TO ENJOY THE REST OF MY SUMMER.
MY JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL STARTED AND I ONLY WENT FOR THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO UNTIL MY DOCTOR TOLD MY PARENTS THAT I HAD TO DO CHEMOTHERAPY; AND THAT WAS THE MOST DEPRESSING TIME IN MY LIFE. ALL I DID WAS CRY AND ASK MYSELF "WHY?"
I DID FOUR SESSIONS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND IT LASTED THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. DURING THAT TIME, I LOST MY HAIR EVERYWHERE, EVEN MY EYEBROWS AND EYELASHES. I DID NOT LIKE MYSELF AT ALL WHEN IT CAME OUT; I CRIED EVERYDAY. I HATED THE WAY I LOOK AND AT SOME POINTS, I WANTED TO DIE.
I DID NOT DIE BUT I DID COME ALIVE; I HAVE BEEN CANCER-FREE EVER SINCE THAN. THAT WAS ONE YEAR AND TWO MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER TO BE ALIVE. MY HAIR HAS GROWN BACK AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN HEALTHIER; NEITHER HAVE I.
APPARENTLY, I AM THE HAPPIEST, LUCKIEST, MOST FORTUNATE GIRL IN THE WHOLE WORLD. WHILE I WAS SICK AND I ASKED MYSELF AND GOD WHY IT WAS ME THAT GOT SICK AND I LINGERED ON THAT QUESTION FOR A LONG TIME AND I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY BUT NOW, AFTER IT IS ALL OVER, I NOW KNOW WHY HE CHOSE ME:
HE CHOSE ME TO HELP ME BREAK OUT OF MY SHELL AND TO BE MORE OUTGOING AND MORE TALKATIVE AND JUST BE HAPPIER. HIS PLAN WORKED AND I AM A HAPPIER, A STRONGER PERSON. I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING I WANT TO; AND I PLAN ON DOING JUST THAT.