In 2006, I went for a surgery to remove a growth from my brain. After recovery, I experienced chemotherapy which made me weak, tired and caused my immunity to drop. I also had radiotherapy that will eventually lead to side effects which may affect my life in the future. Since then, I have lost my stamina and my strength. My immunity is low and I am capable of contracting sicknesses and viruses more easily than others. Due to my multiple hormone defiency, I have to live being short for my age until I receive treatment which will only be sometime soon. Not just that, but I must be on tablet medication for life.

All these have affected my life so much. I cannot do things which I could do earlier before. I used to be able to run fast, now I cannot even go up the stairs. I used to be able to swim multiple laps in the pool, now I can only do a few with muscle pains at the end. My stature has affected me greatly too. It is common to hear people calling me ‘primary three’ or ‘little girl’. I feel insulted all the times even though I knew it was not on purpose. Shortness has led to many disadvantages, too numerous for me to recount.

With all these problems in my life, excluding additional ones from time to time, I feel that I do not want to live such a life, with sickness and disease. With people that do not understand and give rude comments that I take to heart. I just wish that I can be like others, normal and healthy. I will be able to run, skip, jog, interact, swim and many more without fear and difficulty. I can go out without negative comments from anyone and without the ‘primary three’ talk, but instead the ‘secondary two’ talk, a talk I have never heard anywhere else, except in school.