MY MALIGNANCY
It was a bright sunny day in the city of Calabar, Nigeria. Arriving at the soccer field,I met my best friend Harry!. He greeted me calling me in an old fashioned way; hey my buddy Arc,how are you doing? I smiled as we both exchanged pleasantries,he was always fond of calling me Arc right from high school.
I am Archie Arthur but preferably called Arc.
We started the soccer competition, suddenly I started having an abdominal pain,at first I thought maybe it was as a result of the strenuous activities but the pain was nothing to be compared to,it was as if my spleen and liver were being pumped up.
You're bleeding,Harry screamed in fear! That was when I knew my nose was bleeding. I started feeling tired and breathless.
Harry helped me out of the soccer pitch because it was all noisy and crowded by players. Harry screamed for help,I blanked out.
Waking up ,I found myself in the hospital,I really don't know how I got into an hospital bed because I was unconscious. I observed the room, with the drips fixed into my veins and the oxygen to aid my breath.By my side were my family,harry and few of my teammates.
With the chronic joint and bone pain accompanied with the symptoms I experienced at the soccer pitch,I wondered what might be happening to me.
***
Hell No!! My mom screamed after hearing her 18 years old Archie was been diagnosed of having an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. She cried in my dad's hands, but he couldn't console her. Why on earth would my son be diagnosed of cancer, she screamed....
Mr Arthur,the doctor called my dad, jerking him off from his imagination,I advise your son starts undergoing a Chemotherapy treatment, my mom and dad stared at each other in agony written on their faces.
Harry ran towards me where I laid down on the hospital bed, crying uncontrollably,he cried out my buddy Arc ,you were being diagnosed of having cancer. I blanked out for the second time hearing the news.
When I regained consciousness,the news had gone widespread, Harry couldn't control his emotion's after he mistakenly eavesdropped on the doctor's conversations with my parents.My hope of living a fulfilled life was shattered.......
.....Days passed and I was still in the hospital,My parent and my best friend Harry were all by my side. I cried out knowing fully well I might die and no one else to carry my family legacy being the only child of my parent.
We traced some cancer causing substances in the bloodstream of your son Archie, which might come from the tobacco he smokes, said the doctor. My son never smoked for once, lilac my mom fired back at the doctor raged in fury,the doctor replied her;Mrs lilac Arthur,I advise you question your son Archie.
Archie you do smoke!! my mom asked in disbelief after inquiring from me,my dad cried disappointedly. I have never for once saw my father cry, what have I done to myself I questioned my thoughts.Harry too was shocked,they all stared at me,I had let them down and broken their heart from my smoking secrecy.
Few days later, My parent had to pay for my Chemotherapy which was likely the main treatment for an *Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia* (a type of blood cancer) I had other treatments including blood transfusions, intake of antibiotics and had a stem cell transplant.
These past few weeks had been hell for me,I looked so pale, having purple coloured skin rash,blurred vision and a lot of neurological symptoms.
My parent,Mr and Mrs Arthur stood for me amidst the shocking report, Harry and my teammates supported me in all ways when I needed them most.
I sat down in my spacious room, writing my story and advising all smokers out there to desist from such act....
Writer Details:Peace✍️
Location:University of Ibadan,Oyo State,Nigeria🇳🇬.
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