In June of 1989, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease Stage 3A and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 1A (yes you read it correctly, I had two different types of Cancer at once!) I had just celebrated my Sweet 16 and was heading into my junior year of High School. My life was consumed with socializing, shopping (still is), swimming and being a normal teenager. Then my doctor found this lump on my neck and he told my family he was 99% sure that it was Cancer. Now might be a good time to tell you that my sister had just finished treatment for Hodgkin’s disease seven months prior to my diagnosis. After I was officially diagnosed on June 28, 1989, I had numerous surgeries, a medi-port was surgically implanted (the best gift my parents ever gave me) and a year of chemo-therapy and radiation. Treatment wasn’t easy, probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. Chemo and radiation made me sick, tired, bloated and I lost a lot of my hair. I wasn’t allowed to lay in the sun (which is my favorite thing to do, but I did it anyway) and I looked like chipmunk!
I basically spent a year living at Schneider Children’s Hospital. This became my home away from home where I made many new friends, (most of them didn’t win their battle with Cancer) who knew exactly what I was going through. These new friends made my stay at the hospital fun! My doctors and nurses became my extended family. They are also the reason why I am still here. I wasn’t always an easy patient and probably drove them insane. They were patient, understanding and very supportive. There were many bumps in the road during treatment, but my family, friends and doctors helped me stay positive and fight hard. On July 5, 1990, I officially went into remission and have remained for 31 years. It is my greatest accomplishment.
I was able to go to away to college and become a Special Education Teacher. Every year I visit my Survivorship Doctor, who makes sure I am pro-active about my health. There have been some scares along the way, but I try to do everything I can to keep myself healthy. Surviving cancer is such a gift. I am so grateful for everyone who has helped me survive. Many of my friends in the hospital weren’t as fortunate as I. I know they are watching out for me and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about them.
Having Cancer and spending most of your time in the hospital isn’t easy. There were many people who volunteered their time, money and services to help patients have some fun while going through a difficult time. I will never forget those people who helped. I want to give back to the hospital that helped me survive!!! That is why I founded Friends and Angels: The Tracy Vicere Foundation.
-Tracy Vicere
I basically spent a year living at Schneider Children’s Hospital. This became my home away from home where I made many new friends, (most of them didn’t win their battle with Cancer) who knew exactly what I was going through. These new friends made my stay at the hospital fun! My doctors and nurses became my extended family. They are also the reason why I am still here. I wasn’t always an easy patient and probably drove them insane. They were patient, understanding and very supportive. There were many bumps in the road during treatment, but my family, friends and doctors helped me stay positive and fight hard. On July 5, 1990, I officially went into remission and have remained for 31 years. It is my greatest accomplishment.
I was able to go to away to college and become a Special Education Teacher. Every year I visit my Survivorship Doctor, who makes sure I am pro-active about my health. There have been some scares along the way, but I try to do everything I can to keep myself healthy. Surviving cancer is such a gift. I am so grateful for everyone who has helped me survive. Many of my friends in the hospital weren’t as fortunate as I. I know they are watching out for me and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about them.
Having Cancer and spending most of your time in the hospital isn’t easy. There were many people who volunteered their time, money and services to help patients have some fun while going through a difficult time. I will never forget those people who helped. I want to give back to the hospital that helped me survive!!! That is why I founded Friends and Angels: The Tracy Vicere Foundation.
-Tracy Vicere