That's Us

Fighter

In four months, I witnessed a lot of people with different personalities, different ages, different beliefs, and I salute all of them.

I witnessed Alison fighting for her life. I have seen her

parents maybe around 5 times came here from my first

month until my fourth. They rarely visit Alison and I don't

know their reason. I heard they abandoned Alison since

she had this cancer but still paying all her bills here in the

hospital. She is now suffering from Stage 3 leukemia and

sometimes there's an improvement, sometimes it gets

worse but all of the doctors are trying their best to save

her. There are times that Alison is already fighting for her

life that she is catching her breath, we tried to contact her

parents but all they have said was, "Do whatever you

think she needs. I can not go there either my husband. we

are willing to pay all the expenses and if she gave up at

least you tried." I was really mad, I am so mad hearing

those words from her parents. Alison is such a wonderful

child. They do not deserve a kid like Alison, she is

wonderful.

One time at the playground, the other kids are playing

with each other but Alison is just sitting in her

wheelchair. I asked her, "Don't you want to play with

them? I will hold Bee for you." while sitting in front of her.

She shook her head saying no. "Hmmm. Okay, Ali. Do you

want to tell me a story about how you feel?" Alison looked at me and said, "I heard the nurses talking about me and my mom. They said, my mom doesn't want to see me and she abandoned me already." I can feel the pain through her words and I want to confront the nurses who let the kid hear what they are talking about. I tried to calm myself and said, "Alison, life is sometimes unfair. We have to know that. You have been fighting and you are so brave, if your mom is too busy to be here, have you forgotten? I am your mom. Who told you I abandoned you? I would never do that!" then I began to tickle her and then she burst into laughter. "Have you seen your improvement in your chemotherapy? You are winning your battle, Ali. Isn't that good? You know when you are already fully healed you will get to meet your parents again. Do you want that?" I saw she looked away and said, "If I won, can I just be with you, Jane? I just want to be with you and just be my mom." She said with her serious face. I was stunned for a second about what she said, I don't want to say, I don't want to but, I have no idea how to become a mom. I was an irresponsible college student, I don't know if I will be able to be a great mom for her, but I don't want to bring her down. I want her to have the motivation and reason to stay and fight. I breathe heavily and replied, "Okay Alison, Let's have a deal. If you won this fight, I will adopt you and you will be living with me as long as I am here. I will be your guardian and I will take care of you. Is that fine with you?" I can see a sparkle in her eyes and her willingness to survive cancer. I have never felt this pressured my whole life. she hugged me so tight and said, "Can you adopt Bee as well? I can not live without her." I smirked and said, "of course, Ali. whatever you need."

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Two months had passed and Ali keeps stronger and stronger.

Ali was diagnosed with a rapidly growing brain tumor, called a ganglioglioma when she was only three months old. Her parents, worked tirelessly to find the care she needed in Boston where they live. Despite many obstacles, Alison was connected to Boston Children's Hospital, where a clinical trial for ganglioglioma is underway.

Boston Children's Hospital currently offers several investigational treatments for children with brain tumors. Thanks to genetic testing, in some pediatric brain tumor cases, children can be matched to an oral medication that essentially works to shrink the tumor.

"Alison has had great results with this treatment. Although she underwent two surgeries in an attempt to remove the tumor, it continued to grow at a rapid pace. After only three months on the investigational medication, her tumor has nearly disappeared. We are learning more about these rare tumors through our experience with the investigational treatments, and look forward to expanding these offerings to provide hope to more patients like Alison," said Dr. Louise my aunt Associate Director of Neuro-Oncology Program at Boston Children's Hospital.

What’s more, Alison may not need to undergo radiation, avoiding secondary effects that can lead to developmental and educational challenges down the road. Alison's mom, Jane her adopted parent, is brought to tears every time she thinks about how far her daughter has come.

Alison after surgery

“Fate brought me, us to Boston Children's Hospital and God put its exceptional team of professionals in our path. We are forever grateful for the care Alison has received,” said Jane.

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Everyone applauded upon hearing the news on the television. Alison had been featured in one TV show. Everyone including all the doctors that helped Alison to win the disease.

I already adopted Alison as my legal child and her mother agreed to it. I decided to adopt a child my age and for me, this is the best thing ever.

I hugged my Aunt Louise and said, "Thank you so much for bringing me here Aunt. I would never forget the happiness you gave me." and we both look at Alison. "You have improved a lot, my dear Jane. You were just a kid when I first met you and look at you now, you are officially a mom. I hope you became happy and motivated." My aunt said. A woman from afar outside the hospital suddenly shouted saying, "Jane! It's me!" everyone was looking at her, and I don't even know her. Aunt Louise caught my attention when she commanded the nurse to bring Alison inside. I look at the woman and she is crying. "Jane it's me! Your Mom!" The security guards began to stop the woman from coming even closer to us but I insisted that I want to talk to her. My Aunt held my hand and I said, "Aunt I want to talk to her, please." I said. And before I got nearer to her, my aunt called someone on the phone, I stopped and listen to what she was saying. "Come here at the hospital, Sheila is here." I don't know what to feel but I want to know what is happening I have no idea what is happening.

I can see that she wants to talk to me and she has something to say. She looks around forty years old, She has wrinkles that are probably caused by stress. She is crying so hard and it seems she went through a lot. As I get nearer, she reached her hand, and before she finally touched me, my mom's car came together with my dad. "Leave her alone, Sheila!" everyone was stunned by the situation. My mom gets out of the car and immediately walked towards me. I look at my mom while she was holding my hands and trying to pull me to get in her car. "Mom, what is she saying? I want to know, Mom!" I said while I am so confused. "I will tell you everything when we get home, okay?" She said but I don't want to wait any longer, I want the truth. "No mom! I want to know what she's saying. I want to know the truth! Right now!" I said while crying. "Okay, can we just go inside? Let's settle this in a right place?" Dad said. "Let her come with us," I said in a serious tone of voice. My aunt said no, but I insist. I want to know the truth. everyone that is involved was invited inside my Aunt's office to stop the commotion outside the building.

Everyone was in silence inside my Aunt's office when I interrupted, "Anyone wants to talk?" I said in an irritated voice. "Jane, I am your mother." The woman said in tears. Before my mom speak, my aunt interrupted the woman and said, "From the day you left her in the hospital, you are no longer her mom!" My Aunt said in tears. I interrupted them and shouted, "Can anyone explain this to me?! Can anyone tell me what is happening?! please?!" You mom?? You are my mom right?? What is she saying???" My mom bursts into tears and said, "you are my adopted child, Jane." I burst into tears and said, "Mom! I am twenty-three years old, do you even plan to tell me the truth?? Until do you want me to feel this way?? Like, I am always looking for something, I am always missing things out." I continued sobbing. "Your mom has nothing to do with this, Jane..." Aunt said, "...I told her to never tell you about the truth. Your biological dad was my ex, and yes, you are right, the one that I am talking about. And this woman is your biological Mom. When you were Alison's age, they brought you to this hospital on stage 3 cancer. They were begging for me to save you and I never hesitate to save you, Jane, after a few months, your dad gets addicted to illegal drugs and detained for 30 years. Your biological mom left a letter for me saying she no longer can provide the things you need so she's letting me take you with me as her payment for saving you. She abandoned you... But I was scared so I gave you to my Sister. She took care of you and because of your brain surgery, you weren't able to recall all the things that happened. You had selected amnesia and we decided to keep all the truth from you because we don't want you to live in trauma. But we love you, We are sorry for not telling you the truth, but it's for the best. We did all the best things we could do for you instead of living by asking and thinking about what happened to your biological parents. After that, when you are ten, your mom got back to us and want you back when we didn't let her take you, we processed a restraining order against her. She was not cleaned up until now, you are an addict!" She said while looking at her. "We want the best for you, just like what you want for Alison. I know it's hard to accept the fact but I hope you get the answer that you need.