St Jude Children's Hospital: The Diary of Melanie

[Bella]

Day 1- Saturday

Well I just arrivewd at St. Jude Children's hospital. I am a little scared. Not knowing how long I will be here, or if I am ever going to get better. So far the nurses and the doctors are nice and friendly. I miss my friends and family that me and my parents left behind. My mom did not want to come alone, she also did not think that she could handle it on her own.


I can't believe that at 18 I would have gotten so sick that I could die. I was walking the halls of my floor, when I met this child who was 6 years ol. I felt bad for her. Since she is on my floor, she has the same illness as me. Every floor in this hospital has to do with a certain illness or medical purpose. One has it all but that is because it is for the infants who whave gotten sick. Well all but one set of infants and that is because they are on my floor.


I am sitting in my room wearing a cute baby blue pj pants and a hospital gown. I have an IV, which is in my hand, but the doctors are thinking of putting in ports so that it will be easier to recieve that Chemo treatments. I have been here for only a few hours but had alot done to me. I miss my bestfriend and her cute older brother. I hope that they can come and visit me while I am here. i also miss the beach, ocean, and tanning. Something tells me that I will not be able to go tanning got a while. Well I am going to bed now, I am so tired.

[Bella]

Day 2- Sunday

I got alittle sleep last night. It was has when the nurses kept coming into my room to check on me and to switch my IV bags. I am not mad, since it is their job to take care of me after all. I got a phone call from my best friend Cami it was good to talk to her. She also put her brother sam on the phone. When Cami stepped out of the room Sam asked me to be his girlfriend. Even though Sam is 19, I told him yes. I never knew that he liked me. He even gave me his cell phone number and said that I can call him anytime. I am so happy.

Well today I got my port put in and some more testing done. The doctors have told me that this was normal for the frist couple of days up to a week, before anyone started Chemo. My 6 year old friend Vanessa, the one that I met yesterday, sat in on my testing.

Vanessa and I have hung out all day and it feels good. I am helping her out just like she is to me. At least we are not bored in the hospital. We both have school tomarrow. it is not all day but an hour or 2, it is ever other day or so. Nessa told me that she has another round of chemo to start on Tuesday. I hope that I will get to visit her while she goes through Chemo. The doctor's told me that and I looked it up on the net as well. I am able to have my laptop in my room. Night, need to get some sleep before school.

[Bella]

Day 3- Monday

Today was my first day of school. The teacher only went over one subject. That was fine for me. I had homework that was due by the next class time. Since I have nothing else better to do I worked on my home work and got it done. I talked to Sam today. At one point he asked to talk to my parents. I wonder what it was about. He would never tell me. I hope that whatever it is, it is good.

The doctors told me that in three more days I start Chemo. I am kind of nervous about it. I know that I will get sick from it and I will lose my hair. I am also scared that the Chemo will not help me get better. I have not told anyone about that yet. I am also scared about dieing, I know that I am only 18 but I have my life ahead of me.

I say Vanessa for a little bit, it was during school. I did not talk to her yet, usually she stops by and hangs out. I wonder what is wrong. We love our visits we talk, play cards, and have all this fun laughing. We also talk about how scared we are of things. She showed me what it is like around here. I had gone to her roon and she was not there none of her things were. I wondered where she went it is not like her to have her things out of her room. While i was standing there a nurse told me that Vanessa had moved rooms.

[Tanya]

Great start I can't wait to read more to find out what is going to happena and why Sam wanted to talk to her parents. Keep up the great writing and please post more when you can.
Tanya

[Bella]

Day 4- Tuesday

I was sitting in my room wondering about Vanessa when I saw my dad and some one by the door, At first I thought that it was a doctor, but when they got closer I saw that it was Sam. He walked over to the bed and gave me a hug with a kiss. I was told that Sam was staying with my parents while I am in the hospital.

He told me that he did not want me to be alone through this. He was taking all online classes. We were talking and having a good time when Nessa walked into the room. I introduced the two of them to each other, Nessa said that she was sorry for not coming yesterday. When she left, Sam and I both agreed that she did not look good. She was not her self either. I know it was not the chemo but some thing else.

This made me worry, Nessa was such a good friend but I know that sometimes cancer can take a turn on you. I just hope that it does not with me. For the rest of the day Sam and I walked around my floor. We got permisson to walk so me other floors and around other places since I was showing him were every thing was. I am so glad that he is here with me. When my dad left for the day so did my mom and Sam. I will miss him tonight. Well need to get sleep for school.

[Bella]

Day 5- Wendesday

Sam sat with me while I had school. He helped the teacher out. He also started his own math homework. Sam has helped me out more then once with home work. He is such a good person. After school I had to meet with the doctors to go over my frist time doing Chemo and what it will be like. I was scared before the doctor told me step by step what will happen. He also said that since my immune system is not down, Sam can stay in my room the whole time time.

As much as my dad wanted to stay with me, he had to go home and see how my siblings are doing. I will miss him so much. He told me that he will not be gone for long. I stopped by Vanessa's new room, and she could not get out of the bed. Sam was with me the whole time. He was staying the night, the doctors said that he could. While we were in Nessa's room she stopped breathing and was turning blue. I stayed by her side while Sam went to get a doctor and nurses. While he was gone I talked to Vanessa and held her hand.

We stayed in the room whole the doctors worked on her. They got her to breathe again but only for a few more minutes. Her heart stopped and she died. I will miss her. I guess that her body could not fight the cancer any more. I am going to fight the cancer for both me and her. She meant a lot to me.

[Bella]

Day 6- Thursday

Today is my first day of Chemo. I am alittle scared but I have Sam with me. I am sitting in a different room with machines going. I hope that I make it out of the hospital. I miss Vanessa. I can not believe that she does yesterday. Why did I havet o go to her room at that time. I would have missed her death. the one nurse said that Nessa was not breathing off and on during the day. I feel bad for her family. The parents loosing a loved one. I don't know how my family will be if I die. Sam said that he would be heart broken.

Yesterday Sam and I stopped by a room with an infant in it to find out that it was a family friend, the Micheal's. The Micheal's stopped by the room to see how I was. Their daughter was with them. They put her on the bed next to mine. Shortly after at the doctors started my machine up, the infants machine was started. It was nice to know that we are in the same room together.

Sophia was really good while the machines ran. Sophia is the Micheal's daughter. She is so cute. When she was in the bed with me she smiled and giggled. She was beating her cancer. Sophia cried when they tried to move her from my bed. I told her that Sam and I would visit her every day. She smiled and calmed down after that. What can I say I have a way with children. Sam and I both want children. He wants 3 to 5, where as I on the other hand want 2 to 4. We will see though.

[Destany]

This reminds me of a book I had read before...I can't remember the title, but this is amazing! As good, if not better than that one! Keep it up, I can't wait to see what happens to Melanie!

[Bella]

Day 7- Friday

Sam came with me to my class. He worked on his stuff while the teacher worked with me. Since he has been here, he does not leave my side that is until he has to. But then he is one the phone with me until I fall asleep. Not much is going on today. Sam thought that it would be better for me if I stayed in my room. I think that it is because he wants to spend time with only me. I don’t blame him though. I want to spend time with his as well alone. But I know that I should also call his sister and see how she is. After all she is my best friend and will be there for me.


Sitting in my room talking to Sam was fun. He climbed on the bed and held me. We watched TV and talked like that. I know that I fell asleep on him but he does not mind. While my parents were not around Sam asked me to marry him. I told him yes, why shouldn’t I? After all who knows how long I have to live now. But that is because of the cancer.


The doctor said that if I make it though this time and I go into remission there is still a chance that the cancer could come back. But with the proper treatment that is a small chance. That is why my home doctor sent me here to St Jude Children’s Hospital. But I am glad, this means that I will be getting better faster for have the better care. I still can’t believe that Sam asked me to become his wife. I pleaded with the doctors and the caved in, but I was able to get Sam to stay the night with me. I think that the doctor’s see how I am much better when Sam is around and when he can spend the night.