HI PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ THE STORY BELOW. I FEEL VERY HONORED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ROSIE.
Rosie’s Story:
I was in the 9th grade and had just made the track team. It was almost spring break time. My back between my shoulder blades began to hurt so I told my mom. She took me to the doctor. The doctor said that I had most likely pulled something and told my mom if I didn’t feel better in one week to bring me back. I week went by and my back wasn’t any better, so my mom took me back to the doctor who said he would send me to a chiropractor to adjust my back. The next morning mom tried to wake me up. I was having trouble, I was really tired. I finally got up and when I did my whole right side of my body was moving and I couldn’t stop it. Mom took me to the ER and the doctor there did a brain scan, which showed I had 2 tumors side by side on my brain stem. I was then taken by ambulance to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and had emergency surgery that night to put stunts in my head to relieve fluid. When Dr Kim Man Wearing did the surgery, he noticed that under the 2 tumors that were fluid was a solid tumor on my brain stem. He told my mom and dad that it was very bad and that they couldn’t operate on it. The best they could do for me was radiation and oral chemo. I did both of them and they tumor did not respond to it. They told my family I had only 2 months to live. My mom said “can you do anything else for Rosie?”, Dr. Man Wearing said he could try to take some of the tumor out but he didn’t know how I would be after the surgery. I might not know my family or be able to walk or talk. We had a family meeting and I, Rosie, had the final say. I said let’s try it; I know that they can’t cure me, but I can maybe have more time. On Dec 24, 2005 I had emergency surgery again that lasted 12 hours. They removed 80% of the tumor. I lost the use of my right side of my body; my eye and my hearing are also affected. I had to stay in the hospital for close to a year and had to walk, talk and feed myself. I had many infections and almost died from them. But I was about to come home at last and I do oral chemo for 21 days each month and have 7 days off of chemo. The doctor says my tumor is a sleep right now. When I come home from the hospital the doctors told me and my family I still have a terminal illness and that I would probably only live, if lucky, 3 years. Well, that was 4yrs and 4 months ago, but who’s counting!!! I don’t know how long I have left but with the help of the great staff and doctors and PCH I taking it one day at a time and enjoying it. Thank you to PCH for not giving up on me and to my family for all of their support and maybe in the near future, they will find a cure for brain cancer, so no on else will have to go through all of this. It would be an honor to be an honor patient, thank you for thinking of me. And by the grace of god I’m still here on race day, I’ll be there, with bells on, helping my person finish the race.
With much love to you all, sincerely, your friend, Rosalena Garcia
Hi Everyone,
For some strange reason I have decided to give back to the community by doing something that I never ever thought I would do, RUN/WALK in the PFChang's 1/2 Marathon (1/2 is 13 miles).
I have decided to do this not only for myself but for a special Hospital. I will be involved with a special Honor child from the hospital that will be cheering me on as I go along on this life changing endevor. I will send some information on the special child once I meet them on September 19th.
I know that times are tough but every dollar you donate will go directly to the hospital. Phoenix Children's Hospital is Arizona's only licensed children's hospital and is one of the 10 largest freestanding facilities of its kind in the country with 345 licensed beds.
If you know anyone that likes to donate tax deductible dollars please forward my link so it can benefit the hospital.
Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to my fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!