Posted on 04/30/2017 2:02:58 PM PDT by nickcarraway
‘Cancer’s made me stronger’ says brave Emily Findlay – who is the only person in the world to suffer from her form of the killer disease
EMILY Findlay has an incurable form of cancer — but she wouldn’t change it.
The 21-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease when she was just 14.
Emily — believed to be the ONLY person in the world with her particular kind of neuroblastoma — has been close to death several times, but keeps fighting back.
She says: “I don’t think I would change anything about me — having cancer has made me who I am.
“I don’t think I would be the same person if I hadn’t gone through everything I have.
“It’s been seven years of my life and I have never been told I am going to be completely better and live until I am 80.”
But Emily — originally from Orphir, Orkney, but now living in Aberdeen — admits the disease took its toll when she was first diganosed as a teenager.
She and her mum Michelle, 46, had to leave behind her dad Clinton, 47, and brother Max, seven, while she travelled to Aberdeen for treatment at the city’s children’s hospital.
She says: “It was all such a blur as a 14-year-old — it was much harder to come to terms with.
“I was so young and I was hundreds of miles away from home. I felt quite isolated.”
There is no cure for Emily’s cancer and, despite stabilising when she was 16, it keeps returning.
She confesses that the longer she is well the more she worries about falling ill again.
Emily adds: “This type of cancer is really bad for relapsing — it’s very easy for it to happen again. It’s a very difficult situation but I’ve been stable for just over a year.
“The further you get out of treatment the scarier it is because it’s like a waiting game. It’s a case of ‘When am I going to blow up?’.”
But Emily is determined to live life to the fullest.
She is constantly fundraising for Maggie’s Centres, which are built in the grounds of NHS hospitals and provide cancer patients with free emotional, practical and social support.
She is taking part in the charity’s Kitchen Table Day on May 5.
Emily said: “Maggie’s is such a brilliant charity. It’s just where everyone comes together and helps you feel less alone.”
Raise cash for Maggie’s
YOU can get involved with Maggie’s Kitchen Table Day on May 5 to help a great cause.
For more information and to sign up visit maggiescentres.org/campaigns/kitchen-table-day
This young lady reminds me of how precious life is, in whatever form it takes. Her courage is remarkable.
Pray for her. What spirit.
Prayers up for this strong, brave young woman who puts limp-wristed wimps like me to shame. What a shining jewel she is!
The liberal would have aborted her at birth.
The liberal loves baby murder.
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