Published: Tuesday, 23rd September, 2008 12:30
'I was 16, I was given some devastating news - I had cancer'
By Ally McGilvray
Comments (0)
Print Article
SHE looks just like a normal teenager; But 18-year-old Ruth Sandison is extraordinary.
The sixth-year Gala Academy student was just 16 when she was diagnosed with leukaemia – and left wondering how long she had to live.
She had to learn to walk, talk and eat again when she suffered a stroke as a rare side-effect to treatment for the disease.
However, now nearing the end of two years of chemotherapy, the teenager’s recovery is remarkable.
Ruth has just gained three As in her Higher exams, met pop band McFly and is set to visit the cast of her favourite TV soap, Hollyoaks.
She is also planning to stage a plush cocktail party to raise vital funds for MacMillan Cancer Support to help other teenager’s with cancer.
Her story is an inspiration to us all. Here, extracts from Ruth's diary reveal exactly what it's like when cancer forces you to grow up.
THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED
As if being a teenager wasn't hard enough, when I was 16, I was given some devastating news - I had cancer.
It was January 5,2007. I hadn't felt well for a while, but mum just thought it was from being stressed and tired at school, as it was the year I'd sit my Higher exams at school.
I felt exhausted a lot of the time, and had constant colds. But, after Christmas, I really started to go downhill, and eventually didn't even have the energy to get out of bed.
I went to the doctor and he took a blood test. The next night, he was at the door.
I was pretty scared when I came down the stairs to see him, as I knew this must mean there was something seriously wrong.
He told me I had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. My initial reaction was shock, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was to be taken straight to hospital for more tests and then begin a two-year course of intensive chemotherapy.
Five minutes ago I was just a normal girl. My biggest worries had been boyfriends, school, going out with my friends...now I wondered if I was going to live much longer.
LIFE BECAME MORE FRIGHTENING
My whole life had to change overnight - school was put on hold while I started chemotherapy.
Sometimes I would be in the hospital four days a week for five weeks and that was really difficult because I would be left with no energy and being sick all the time.
I'd been in hospital for two weeks when I had a stroke. It was caused by a bad reaction between two chemotherapy drugs. It was even more frightening because it happened during the night.
Two friends had been to visit and brought popcorn. I decided to have some in the middle of the night but dropped the bag on the floor. I buzzed the nurse. I could hear in my head what I wanted to say but it came out as a babble.
It got worse over the next hour until I couldn't move my left side or talk. It was scary. Mum got a call at 4am. I could still use my right hand a bit so wrote things down.
Tests showed mini blood clots in my brain. I didn't know if that would be me for the rest of my life but slowly, with the help of doctors and physios, I got better. Simple things like walking and talking had to be learned again.
THE BOYFRIEND WHO TOLD ME I WAS BEAUTIFUL EVEN WHEN I DIDN'T FEEL IT
One of the worst side-effects of the chemotherapy was losing my hair. I went down to six stone too so felt thin and ill. But Callum Craw,22, a guy who had been a few years above me at school, kept me believing I was beautiful.
We started off as pals although I'd had a crush on him at school. When he heard I was ill, he emailed regularly and things grew from there. We got together in January this year. He's kept me going and is always there when I need him.
I've just started going out without my wig as my hair is growing back in. I wouldn't have had the confidence to do that without him.
MY DATE WITH McFLY
I met McFly in November when they were at the SECC in Glasgow.
I liked the drummer, Harry, best. He gave me a hug and told me he was running a marathon for the Teenage Cancer Trust, who had fixed up the meeting.
In November, my boyfriend and I are off to meet the Hollyoaks cast, my favourite TV show.
MY BRIGHT FUTURE
Cancer has made me grow up a lot.
I’ve learned not to take anything for granted, such as my sight.
At one point I had another reaction to some of the drugs and I had double vision for ages. I was learning to drive at the time and had just gone back to school – it was horrible.
I'm still getting chemotherapy but it's much less intensive than last year. My Macmillan nurse, Judith Smith, is a star, as are all the team at ward six of the Borders General Hospital, led by my consultant Dr John Tucker.
I was speechless when I got three As in my Higher exams this summer and hope to study psychology at university.
To any teenager with cancer I'd say try not to let it get to you. Most of my mates have been really good and just treated me like normal most if the time.
I did have days where I was just lying in my bed or on the sofa crying – not wanting to do anything or see anybody. But then other times I would try to be really positive.
MY 18TH BIRTHDAY AND MY FIGHT BACK
I turned 18 on May 9 and it was an unforgettable party. Celebrity hairdresser Charlie Miller cut a real hair wig which looked so close to my natural hair. I didn't have to pay, even though it took him hours.
We hired a limo then went on to a bar where we'd hired a room upstairs. It was a really good night.
I am one of the lucky ones who has got better but it's the people who support you along the way who guarantee that.
When you have cancer you really find out who your friends are. My whole family have been a fantastic support, too.
Macmillan Cancer Support aim to raise more than £8.5million at the world's biggest coffee morning on September 26. For more information log on to www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0131 260 3720.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Pensioners have a Gala day