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Today I Turn 8 — And It’s Also the Day I Finish My Last Chemotherapy Treatment
Today is my birthday. I’m turning eight years old.
I should be thinking about cake, balloons, and which present I want to open first. And I am — a little. But today is special for another reason too. Today is the day I finish my last chemotherapy treatment.
For a long time, hospitals felt like a second home. Needles, machines, and long days replaced playgrounds and school desks. There were days when I felt brave, and days when I felt scared. Some days I was too tired to smile. Other days, I smiled anyway.
But I was never alone.
The Power of Affordable Care
My family couldn’t have done this without affordable pediatric care and low-cost hospital services. Doctors, nurses, and specialists worked tirelessly — not just to treat my illness, but to treat me like a kid. They explained things in ways I could understand. They celebrated my small victories. They made scary days a little less scary.
Because care was accessible, my parents didn’t have to choose between treatment and survival. They could focus on helping me heal.
Community Made the Difference
When things were hardest, our community stepped in. Neighbors brought meals. Friends sent cards and drawings. Strangers donated, shared encouraging words, and reminded us that kindness still exists.
Those moments mattered more than people know.
Every message, every act of support, every prayer or positive thought helped carry us through days that felt impossible.
A Birthday, A New Beginning
Today, I ring the bell for the last time. It means treatment is over. It means hope is louder than fear. It means a future filled with school days, scraped knees, laughter, and dreams that don’t involve hospital rooms.
I’m still healing. I’m still growing. But today, I’m also celebrating life.
More Than a Story — A Reminder
This little birthday is proof of what happens when healthcare is accessible, when communities care, and when children are given the chance to fight with support instead of fear.
Today I turn eight.
Today I finish chemotherapy.
And today, I get to be just a kid again.
