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"Rainbows for Brighter Days"

Jeannette

The hardest thing to do that is so important when fighting an illness is to take everything one day at a time, sometimes a minute at a time. With many illnesses, things can go up and down while on the road to recovery. Just when one thinks they have a hold on everything, it can break, leaving frustration and fear, or the question, "Now what do I do?" The letters written to me over the months illustrated the roller coaster I was on. Some expressed relief for the fact I was in remission, others showed sorrow for a bad week, a high fever, pneumonia, or 'bad cells.' What got me through it? Support, Love, Hope, Faith. How did I do it? Doubting and believing...crying and laughing...fear and strength...anger and love...and rainbows.

During the year of my struggle with leukemia, rainbows symbolized my belief of brighter days ahead. My hospital room walls were covered with rainbows, and I had rainbows in every form scattered about my room. It seemed that any time there was a sense of hopelessness, a rainbow would appear before my eyes, or a member of family's eyes. Also, during the year, our dog died. Anyone who has ever lost a dog knows how hard this can be. Not knowing if I would live or die, and only being home for a few weeks to rest before my bone marrow transplant, I asked that we get another dog immediately so I could get to know, love and be a part of our next family pet. Our new Collie, Scottie, was a dear friend for all of us throughout the rest of my illness and was a big part of my life for many years after, always by my side...my angel. Eleven years later, the week of my wedding, Scottie died. As I entered a new phase of my life, his job watching over me was done. As I exited the church door on my wedding day, there was a huge rainbow waiting for me. Then last spring my wonderful brother, Erik, was suddenly stricken with a terrible illness which in a matter of days left him blind and paralyzed from under his arms down. One afternoon after leaving the hospital with my sister and his wife, there was the biggest, full, double rainbow I have ever seen right over his house...another rainbow to refuel our hope.

Rainbows are my reminder to hold on tight to a belief that brighter days are ahead.

Leukemia (AML)
Diagnosed at 12
Now 27

Reprinted with permission from the book "Kids with Courage."
"Kids with Courage" may be obtained by calling Wisconsin Clearinghouse at 800-322-1468.

No part of "Kids with Courage" may be reproduced in any way or by any means without permission in writing form from:
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K4/666 Clinical Science Center
600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792




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