DOT 60 : BENIGN

Daniel (7+ years old) 

One month after surgery ...

 

Mom got in touch with some survivors on the internet who had the same deadly cell as You, and at first was comforted that everyone on the survivors’ site spoke positively and was encouraging one another to fight and battle on. 

There were about twelve survivors on the site at the time she checked. They ranged from children to elderly people, all of whom had the same challenge.

As years went by, You never knew this, but You survived them all. 

Once, about four years after your first surgery, when You asked about the friends from the site, Mom mumbled that she could not find the link anymore. 

She lied. 

She had to. 

There was no way for your mother to tell You that the word "deceased" had appeared under some of the survivors' profile photos then.

You left it at that and never brought it up again.

On hindsight ... 

Dad and Mom may have stepped into the doctor's office to have the “malignant” word slammed into their faces, but when they stepped out, they radiated with everything that was “benign.” 

You were too young to understand anything. 

Besides, Dad and Mom were never pressured into explaining the real situation to You. Or to anyone else for that matter. 

You were busy living a normal and a happy childhood.

Life was back to normal …

 

 At the Grand Canyon during our trip to the States in 2004 ...