As I lay down on the beach chair under the burning hot sun, I felt worn out, nauseous and like I was in a different dimension. About six years ago I thought my life at ten years old was completely over. Spring Break ’04 was here and my family and I were ready to get it going. Little did we all know, God had a different plan for us. Figuring that I was tired from all the excitement, I decided to lay down under a big and beautiful green palm tree. “Daddy,” I said tiredly, “Can you lie my towel down on the sand?”
“Sweetheart, I think you’re old enough to do that yourself.” Plop! I fell down faster than a ton of bricks. I had fainted. “We have to take her to the hospital!” After I got up, I immediately threw up. My family rushed me to the hospital in Fort Lauderdale Florida. The doctors ran a bunch of test and had no idea what was wrong with me. It got to the point where they had nothing to do but send me home, or at least that’s what I thought?
“Mr. And Mrs. Wakile, we are going to run one more test.” And the doctors did, they put me through a CAT scan and everything went well, until that special E.R. doctor came again. She slowly traveled in and I will never forget that look on her face. “Mr. And Mrs. Wakile, can I please talk to you both,” she was stumbling on her words, “We found a tumor in your daughter’s brain the size of a tennis ball.”
Avoiding the fact that I was sick, my parents acted totally normal. When I asked my parents what the doctor had said they ignored me. With my stomach trembling, I was put in an ambulance and journeyed to hospital number two, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. This hospital was adorable and brought happiness to my eyes. With paintings of baseball scenery, I knew I was in the right place, but still had not a clue why I was there. When I was finally settled in my blue and green striped room, my parents broke down. Crying, my parents told me what was going on. “Victoria, you have a tumor the size of a tennis ball in your brain and…” my father left.
“Mommy, come cry with me, I am confused too.” My mother came and sat on the bed with me while rocking me back in forth.
“It’s going to be okay,” she repeated. “God is with us.”
While I rested, my parents called doctors in New Jersey and more importantly my family. Dad talked to a good family friend who was also a doctor. He had told my dad that he should get me home to a hospital in New York as soon as possible. As my parents told the doctors what our plans were, they kept insisting that it wouldn’t be good for me and we should stay in Florida. The doctors also stated that if I were to leave, I would have to take a medical leer jet with only one guardian and a complete equipped medical staff. So that is what we did and I left Florida that night. One million and one thoughts traveled in my head. Would I be okay? Would this change my life? What was going to happen? But deep down in my heart, I knew that whatever happened to me, my parents, my family, and my friends would always be there for me; I had faith! Before I landed, the fun and cute nurses and I said our goodbyes and my mother and I thanked them for all their help. As I flew into the airport in Teterboro New Jersey my mother gave me the story. The plan was that I was going to the New York Columbia Presbyterian.
As I entered the pleasurable hospital, new faces of doctors and nurses entered my new beige room. They also ensured my family and I that I would be fantastic and healthy after a ten-hour surgery that would take place the following day, at ten o’clock A.M. The part that hurt me the most was when the nurses told me my hair would be shaved off entirely. I was devastated! Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been growing my golden hair and to think that it was going to be shaved the next morning was absolutely unbearable. I was extremely scared of what would come my way, but as familiar faces entered the room I suddenly felt a tad better. My family was there! That night, I saw my cousins, aunts, uncles and my grandmas. I had so much family there that the room was overflowing. After nine o’clock though, they all had to leave. I said goodbye to each of them and they promised me they would all be there after I came out of the surgery. The hardest part was saying goodbye to my little brother, for he would be staying with my cousins for a couple days. He squeezed me hard and gave me a great big kiss. My dad left to go home and pack up my brother’s clothes and necessities. But at the end of the night my mother and I were left. We prayed and prayed until we finally cried ourselves to sleep.
That morning at ten o’clock sharp they took me into the room I would be in for ten hours. Looking back now, I will never forget how hilarious my parents looked in those turquoise scrubs, however it wasn’t funny then. After about 15 minutes and laughs put to side, it was time for them leave. I kissed them both, gave them a big hug and they were gone. Although I felt as if I were alone I wasn’t. I had Jiddo on my left shoulder and Papa on my right, my deceased grandfathers, but most importantly I had God and I knew I always would. While the surgeon injected me with an IV, they put anesthesia in it, and I was soon asleep.
I was finished! The surgery went fantastic and I was healthy and okay. Because I was under anesthesia for an extra two hours I was a bit drowsy, but I do remember all my family there! With my oxygen mask on and tubes strapped all over me, the nurses wheeled me out of the elevator towards my room. I waved to my family, I waved to the doctors, I waved to the nurses and I also waved to the mothers who were supporting their babies in ICU. Realizing I still had hair on my head the surgeon came in and told me that there was no way he would shave my long golden hair off and I thanked him and God for that.
When I was strong enough handle myself and not have nurses come in every other minute, I moved into another big room. It was so cool. With my own bathroom, phone, nurse and most important my own T.V with games on it and everything! With a gathering of stuffed animals, fruit baskets and flowers, I felt loved. Because I was in the hospital for so long, finally getting out made me feel so thrilled to know I was going home. When I arrived home, it seemed like everyone I knew and my parents knew including family were a waiting my arrival with balloons, banners, flowers, and all sorts of sweet treats. That wonderful and warm reception is something that I will never forget. After a week home, I was strong enough to see all my friends at school, and its funny because to this day I still have all the cards and things my fourth grade class made for me. Every so often I reread them to remind myself how amazing it is to have friends.
Even though I have a scar from ear to ear and I have to go to a variety of doctors every so often just to check up, it’s totally worth being here today and telling my beautiful story. It just goes to show that miracles do happen everyday and to live every moment of your life to the fullest. God is great! God is Love!
