It’s a great day to be Alive.

This post is based on a true story… And talks in 3rd person.

It’s very easy to get frustrated with the lives we currently have. Whether it be, we’re going through a breakup, having problems at work, have trouble with school, etc… Sometimes we fall into the “I wish my life was different!” Mind frame, correct?

Although it’s very easy for me to get frustrated, I’m happy that I get to go through the experiences I go through, because at one point in time, it was unsure if I would be able to.

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Chelsea. (That’s me, in black, in the front row…) She was just chillin’, going through high school like usual as an 11th grader. A choir kid, who thoroughly enjoyed singing, and loved her friends. Everything was alright in Chelsea’s life. Sure, she wasn’t exactly the prettiest thing on the block, but she was confident, and intelligent, and awesome. One day, she started to get headaches. It wasn’t really a big deal… Until she also was very tired. Then she started getting sick more often. What the heck was going on? She passed it off as just a long lasting flu of sorts, and continued on with her life.

Then her headaches became sooo bad, that she couldn’t get out of bed, and couldn’t go to school. She loved school. This tipped her parents off that something wasn’t right, so they took her to the doctor. Chelsea’s doctor was awesome. She had always figured out what was going on with Chelsea before, so Chelsea totally trusted her. They took some blood and wrote a prescription for an antibiotic for the flu, because those are the symptoms she had, and sent her on her way. Sadly, she was back 2 weeks later, same symptoms, same tired Chelsea. Her doctor was curious. Right before this meeting, she prayed to know how to fix Chelsea.

While taking Chelsea’s blood again, she had a feeling to check her Prolactin levels, a level you usually only check in adults. It’s supposed to be between 5 and 15. When the tests returned, Chelsea’s level was at 107.3. That was a sign that somewhere in Chelsea’s brain, was a tumor. So, to make sure, she scheduled Chelsea an MRI the next day. Chelsea was clueless as to what was going on, and thought it was totally normal to have an MRI on her head. No biggie.

This was in March of 2009. Right before Chelsea turned 17.

The doctor called Chelsea’s parents when the results came back. She had a tumor in her pituitary gland, and it looked like it was pressing against her optic nerve, so she sent Chelsea to an Optometrist to do a cool, but long eye test. Once again, Chelsea thought this was legit and normal.

She was also going to New York with her Fashion Teacher for spring break. Now we’re in April of 2009. Because of this, her parents thought it best to not tell Chelsea of the tumor, because they knew she would freak out about it, and not enjoy her trip. So, they secretly told her teacher to keep an eye on her, and if at any time her eye sight went screwy, or if she passed out or something, to call them so they could fly Chelsea home. Nothing happened, Chelsea enjoyed her trip, all was fine and dandy to a clueless Chelsea.

Couple weeks go by, and Chelsea started to work on final projects for her classes. It was only two weeks before school got out, and Chelsea was going to see a Neurologist. Once again, Chelsea thought this was normal. Chelsea and her parents went to the Neurologist, and he started talking about the Pituitary Gland, showed her where it was located, showed her a picture of a normal sized Pituitary Gland, how it’s the size of a pea, yet it controls your whole body and such, blah, blah, blah.

(Now you know what I’m talkin’ about!)

Finally, he showed Chelsea a picture of her brain. Chelsea noticed that her Pituitary Gland was not the size of a pea, but of a nickel. “Chelsea, you notice how yours is bigger than normal? That’s because you have a tumor inside yours.” Woah, brain doctor say what?

After a moment of letting this new information set in, he began to point out how close her Pituitary Gland was to her optic nerve, and then said that if her gland presses against the nerve, it will cause her to go blind. So, when would she like to have surgery? What?!

Chelsea’s dad then said that she was still in school until the end of May, and so the doctor scheduled surgery for the 3rd of June. Chelsea didn’t really know what to think. She was scared, but also wanted to be strong. So, she named her tumor Frederick.

The end of school came, and it was surgery day. Surgery day had been changed to June 5th, due to scheduling issues, and so, Chelsea had brain surgery.

At that hospital.

Hey! It’s the inside of an operating room!

Chelsea didn’t really remember going into the operating room. She had stayed up the entire night before, worrying about the surgery. So, before she even left the room before surgery, she fell asleep. No countdown from 100 for her :(

She was in the hospital for 6 days. She wanted to go home on the second day, but apparently having brain surgery is a big deal. (Don’t ever joke about “What day it is” or “What is your name?” Because the nurses do not think it’s funny…)

The day after she got out of the hospital, she went to a Kelly Clarkson Concert. Sadly, she couldn’t smile :(

That surgery changed her life.

She graduated high school.

Had epic adventures with her best friend.

Went to Greece.

And now, this is what she looks like today. 2 years later, she’s still alive, and able to see and do things like normal kids do.

Okay, okay, so, maybe this story is about me. Today, I reflect on the past two years. I’m so glad they found the tumor. If they hadn’t, I would have probably lost my vision, or worse. I would have never started my job at Wal-Mart. I wouldn’t have the chance to see my cousins in Canada. I would have never seen/met my nephews. Today, I feel happy that I’m alive, happy, and healthy.

So, if your having a hard time right now, and are pretty pissed off at life, just think about how lucky you are to be alive. That you’re able to see everything around you. That you can hear music, and laughter. That you have two arms, two legs, two hands, two feet. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember how blessed we truly are.

I’m so happy that I have had the chance to meet as many people as I have. I’m glad I’ve gone through the heartbreak that I’ve gone through. I’m happy to be me, and the life I have, and nothing will ever change that. I will always have this experience with me.

It’s a great day to be alive. Never forget that.

<3 Chels