Personal Narrative: Grandma's Positive Fight To Cancer

Grandma's Positive Fight to Cancer
Waking up to the sound of the clapping of her hands making homemade tortillas was part of my daily life growing up in the ranch. Still with my eyes closed, I could smell a combination of the corn tortillas cooking slowly, and smoke of burning wood coming from the brick porch right outside my room. With my mouth watering for the taste of such appetizing meal, made by this woman whom I adore, was the beginning of my days as a child. "Everything has a solution, except death", words so powerful and meaningful she always implied to me. I have learned from experience that the attitude and way in which we see things before doing them, has a powerful impact on its outcome. For example, if I don’t want to cook dinner,

but force myself without desire, the taste isn’t the same as when I put the enthusiasm and energy hoping for a delicious meal. Therefore, I believe it is tremendously important to have a positive attitude about the things we do, even when they are sometimes challenging. This idea came to me after my grandmother was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005. Based on my grandma's experience I've learned that when you look at challenging things in a positive way, the outcome would lead to overcome them and success in life.
Born and raised in Mexico until the age of 11 by two beautiful woman, marked my life in many ways.

My grandma took the role of a second mother to me and my brothers since mom and dad were often gone working. Grandma's house located only steps away from mine became home to me, since being the middle child often had to be left there. Closing my eyes, I go back in time to those days when walking at a fast firm pace along her side she will talk to me for long hours. A very wise woman who was trying to teach me the purpose of life. How in order to be someone important you first need to know what is it that you want out of life. Once you know what that is, hold on to it with all the strength there is within your soul and fight for it until it's

yours.
I was 14 years old when my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. I remember that day as if it was yesterday. It was a hot, humid, summer day in August. I walked in the house, went straight to the kitchen and grabbed a cold glass of water. I was thirsty and tired from the long walk from school. It wasn’t until after I drank the water that I notice mom sitting with an expression telling me something was wrong. I proceed with the question, is everything ok? With her eyes full of tears she shook her head, and quietly became subbing. I then panicked and rushed asking about dad, brothers and sister. Mumbling in a soft voice that was almost impossible to hear she said it was my grandma. The heat and sweat my body had felt only a minute ago, suddenly vanished and was replaced by an ice cold feeling that froze my body. I was in shock, memories appear in my head of that strong, brave woman that I've always admired. My heart hurts for the very first time. It felt as if someone was squeezing it so hard that even breathing was difficult to do.
Everything happened so fast, that within a week she already had surgery. A 5 pound tumor was removed from her stomach, and part of her intestines were cut. I had never wished so much to be by her side in those difficult moments. Unfortunately, certain circumstances didn’t allow it. The following week I was able to talk to her over the phone. She greeted me and ask me how I was. A knot full of emotions blocked the words in my throat. My eyes were closed, tears wet my eyelashes and began to fall down my cheeks. Squeezed the phone hard as if it could give me the strength I needed to continue. When I was finally able to talk, I asked her how she was. She responded fine with a soft little laugh. I remember her saying, "there is nothing to be upset about or even worry, this disease has picked the wrong body and it does not belong here". She was not going to let cancer take her life away. It was a battle she had faith to win.
She went thru chemo and radiation therapy for three consecutive years.

Procedures were not easy, and the side effects were sometimes harder than the own therapy itself. She will go days without eating any solid foods, and the lack of energy deprived her from getting out of bed. She described feeling so weak that even opening her eyelids made her tired. Her faith, strength and positive way of thinking and believing in herself were essential to overcome this disease. Not only she had won the battle to cancer but she did not lose any of her hair. At age of 65 doctors found it incredibly amazing for such a fast

recovery.
The power in which we view things, it's so strong that the outcome relates to the perspective in which we look at them. We as humans have the ability to overcome things in the way we want the results to be. If the first look or impression at a problem is negative, we will see only the bad sides and set ourselves for failure. However, if we see our daily life challenges in a positive way, the chances of succeeding and turning something bad into good are greater. Believing we are capable of achieving any obstacles in life is key to make it happen. In conclusion, I believe it is in our hands to choose whether we want to succeed or fail in life, and everything starts with the way we acknowledge each situation.