" I Had A Tumor, It Wasn't A Rumor"

A little about me...

Hi! My name is Ross. I am 15 years old. I am a sophomore in high school. Some of my hobbies and interests... studying, playing soccer and the trombone and computer games with my friends on-line.

Information about my illness...

In 1993, when I was 6 years old, I was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma. I was treated at UW Children's Hospital. I had chemotherapy.

My words to others...

My suggestions to other survivors are... A positive attitude makes all the difference.

The most important lesson I learned from my experience is... To live every moment of your life, because it can be gone in an instant.

A positive outcome from my experience is... There is life after cancer. I wrote this poem in 1994, when I was 7 years old. Now I'm 15. I went to homecoming last week, I'm on the JV soccer team and play my trombone in the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble.

" I had a tumor, it wasn't a rumor. It grew in my belly and made me full of jelly. The chemo made me ill. Now I know how to swallow a pill. Now I'm feeling great. In March I will be eight! "