THE OPTIMISM OF SOMEONE WITH NO HAIR
Elías nowadays
Hello everyone, let me introduce myself, I am Elías and I am 20 years old. On the 10th of July 2010, at just 19 years of age I was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, accompanied by a large tumor on my chest. After the setback of the bad news, after several months of struggle, and despite the fact that there remains a long road ahead to be cured, I too have a plan: I WANT TO LIVE!!
In short, I want to recover the life I left behind, to finish my degree, to enjoy myself and to travel, travel travel. I want to thank each and every person that is helping me along the way during these hard times. I want to thank the José Carreras Foundation, and I want to collaborate with them to help inform people about the disease, to tell them of the importance of bone marrow or umbilical cord blood donation, because in reality it is rare, and it is crucial that people truly understand its importance. I want to laugh and to crush these 9 letters that have changed my life L-E-U-K-A-E-M-I-A. Above all, I want to enjoy the small things that are never appreciated but now I know their true value; a coffee, a walk in the park, to sleep in my own bed, Christmas at home with my family, and many other things. I have a plan and I intend to realize it!!
Thank you to the team of haemotologists at the Príncipe de Asturias University Hospital, and especially to Dr. Martín. Thank you to the nurses and the auxiliaries, or better to say to my ladies, for all their efforts in making me feel like I was in my second home, a real home with all the love and strength that they gave me.
It has been almost seven months since I was diagnosed: 1 cycle of remission, 5 of consolidation, many days and nights spent in hospital, 3 bone marrow punctures in the sternum and 1 in the hip bone, 5 spinal taps, litres and litres of serum and bicarbonate, many corticoids, antibiotics, analgesics, anxiolytics, platelet transfusions, and etc... endless. However, one thing that has never been in short supply is the desire to WIN the battle and the fight to LIVE!!
Many thanks to all the donors of blood, platelets, bone marrow, umbilical cord, tissue, organs, and all the anonymous heroes that give hope to those who need their help. Thank you so much!
To all my bald companions; we are brave and it will be ok for sure!
Warmest regards,
Elías
Become a member of the cure for leukaemia and haematological malignancies, HERE
Find out more about bone marroy donation, HERE