Tag Archives: lighters-music

My name is Jessica.  On September 18th, 2009, when I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and I was hospitalized at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario  to receive chemotherapy treatment. The cancer was very aggressive so the chemotherapy was very aggressive.  Because of this, I had to live in the hospital for 6 months and would not be able to return to school or to competitive dancing. I was devastated. After one month of treatment, I was very sick.  I lost all of my hair and I was very sad and lonely.  During my third round of treatment, in December 2009, I was at my lowest point. I had just come out of isolation for a very bad infection and I was still very weak.  My IV line was attached to a pole and the tubes were attached to my body via a line that was surgically inserted into my chest. One morning, in December shortly before Christmas, a nurse came into my room and said, “Do you know a singer named Justin Bayber or something like that?” Although she was saying his name wrong, I knew EXACTLY who she was talking about. I jumped up and said, “Yes, Justin Bieber, I love him, why?” She told me that he was coming to the hospital and I had 10 minutes to get down to Marnie’s Lounge (a recreation area in the hospital) where he would be coming.  I jumped out of bed, still in my pajamas and still attached to my IV pole.  The nurse told me they would take me off the IV line but I would have to drink many glasses of orange juice to keep my blood sugar levels normal so I wouldn’t pass out. I then ran into the bathroom and put on clothes, my wig and hat and any makeup my mom had with her, and we made our way down to the lounge.  There were some other very sick teens in there as well and we all sat very quietly as we waited for Justin to come.  That was hard because I was bursting on the inside! Then he came in and the room was very quiet during his entire visit.  He talked with each and every patient in there, took pictures, signed autographs.  He talked for as long as every child wanted to.  He asked me if I had Facebook and I told him yes and he said he wasn’t allowed to get it until he was 14!  We laughed. Above is the picture he took with me that day. My mom only had her cell phone with her so we were never able to get a very good picture so I treasure this one, even though I’m not at my best. I was released from the hospital on my 13th birthday, February 18th, 2010.  My cancer was in remission. I am now 14 years old, still cancer free,  and I will be graduating from my elementary school in Ajax, Ontario this Tuesday, June 28th. When I think back to my time in the hospital, Justin’s visit came at the best time possible and helped me through a very difficult time .  I love him and hope that one day I will be able to thank him in person. -Jessica Theocharides @ilovejbgirl18   Read the original post: My name is Jessica.  On September 18th, 2009, when I was 12…

Continue reading here:
My name is Jessica.  On September 18th, 2009, when I was 12…