Why am I doing my third half marathon at the age of sixteen for Team Lifeline? Well, let me tell you. You see, I don't do this because Chai Lifeline just seems like a great organization. I know it’s an AMAZING organization, and I see that firsthand.
You see, I was diagnosed at the age of two with an incredibly rare blood disorder called pediatric polycythemia vera. It is one in 10 million in pediatrics, so there is no cure. Basically it causes my body to create too many red cells, white cells, and platelets. It can mutate into leukemia and/or other blood disorders but because it's so rare, there is no way to know what will happen.
Two years ago, I was in Nashville on vacation, and, to say the least, I almost died due to problems that came from one of my medications. It turned out the said medication caused ulcers in my stomach, and I vomited over two pints of blood, resulting in me needing two blood transfusions and lots of tests. I was stuck in PICU at Vanderbilt, hundreds of miles away from my father and sister. Chai Lifeline was able to get me and my family what we needed until we could get back home. Two weeks after being in the PICU, and still sick with ulcers, I went to Camp Simcha Without Borders, which was the first time in my life that I had ever been able to forget about all my challenges and just feel like a normal kid. This is so incredible because this was a point in my life when I felt the least normal. I was constantly taking medicine, I had to go under anesthesia three times in two months, and I had just almost died. That was when I had decided I wanted to go to Camp Simcha Special. When I arrived at camp, I had one friend there. Over the course of two weeks, I made so many more and had the best two weeks of my life. I have now been to camp twice, and I have so many amazing memories from there that only Chai Lifeline could give me. And it's not just camp that makes such a huge difference. From birthday and Chanukah presents to programming for the whole family, Chai Lifeline makes sure that the journey through illness and loss just a little bit easier with every day. Everything Chai Lifeline does for me, my friends, our families, and so many more is just to brighten our days in times of hardship. Growing up with chronic illness is one of the biggest challenges life can give you, and camp is a place filled with people going through these similar challenges. While I was the only one there with PV, everyone there still gets me, and I get them.
-Emma