Medicine at Michigan Updates
Beginning Life Anew
In fall 2005, Lisa Harvey, then 16, graced the cover of Medicine at Michigan representing,
as a patient, our story on the Blood
and Marrow Transplant Program. Lisa,
whose leukemia had returned despite chemotherapy, underwent a bone marrow
transplant in 2003.
Lisa has shared her long journey toward recovery with countless friends,
family and supporters through her CarePage — a free, personal, private Web page provided by C.S. Mott Children’s
Hospital. Recently, Lisa, now 18, wrote what is likely one of her final entries
on her CarePage, which appears below with her permission.
 |
| Lisa Harvey on graduation day with her parents, Nancy and Bill |
May 23, 2007, 2:08 a.m.
Well, this is it. I mean, almost it — to me at least. Today is the last “official” day that I will be within the walls of Chelsea High School as a student. I made it. It sounds so lame to say it, but when I think about how much “making it” means to me, I realize I accomplished the one thing I set my mind to: graduating with my class. There were people who thought I wouldn’t make it to 10th grade; there were people who thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Well ... aren’t you glad I’m always right!? I’m kidding, but when it came to this, I had to be right. I just had to.
This day, along with graduation day, marks the end of a long journey. After having cancer, I was still fighting and struggling to survive. Survive among my fellow classmates as well as survive in the real world. It’s not that I had doubts, it’s just, well, my life seems very complicated because of my past with cancer. And now with this journey ending, finally, I hope that I can begin life anew.
I’ll be attending Western Michigan University in the fall, and will no longer be known as the girl who is trying to survive, trying to graduate with her class because she had cancer. This will be the first time I will be able to be me, without an obvious past.
Never forget who you are. It’s good advice. But also, I will never forget who I’ve been. Everything I’ve been through has shaped me into who I am today. And I believe it worked out well. I am nervous and excited to begin this new journey.
I owe a lot of people for accomplishing high school. And I want to let the world know I could not have done it if it weren’t for patient parents such as mine. If you only knew the things they dealt with when it came to me. Goodness, I’m not sure if I want to be a parent now. They never gave up. They didn’t know what would happen but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that I wasn’t allowed to stop trying. It’s the last day of school but I’m being told to keep studying for my exams even though I’m convinced it doesn’t matter at this point. My parents don’t want anything less for me than my best. And I owe them all of this. All of me being able to graduate.
Parents are the people who raise us, shape us. And my parents have shaped me into a strong, determined, accomplished individual. Simply put by me to them: THANK YOU.
So here it is, one of the last few entries I will likely be writing. This CarePage will have to come to an end eventually. It’s been almost four years. I’ve got this. I’m healthy.
I’m healthy and graduating. Working full-time and attending college in the fall!!!! If only you knew all of what that means to me. To hear myself say it, and to think back, I’m not sure if that girl in the hospital could have pictured such a bright future. But, well, here it is, folks. Here’s the future. May it bring us all the blessings, love and much more as we journey through it.
Again, thank you for your support and continuing with this CarePage.
~All my love~
Lisa
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