Don't own it


She was only six-years-old and it was her mother's birthday. She had been very sick and the medication she was on was making her feel worse. She was tired. She was feeling a bit cranky, but she put on a smile and tried to enjoy the birthday. After the cake she was really tired and feeling nauseated.

Her mother noticed that.

"Not feeling so great honey?"

She shook her head.

"I'm really tired," she said in a sweet weak voice.

Her mother kissed her forehead and saw she was burning up.

She had a tumor at the base of her neck and it was clearly either the tumor or the medication she was on that was causing her to be sick right now.

"We have to get her to the hospital," her mother told her father, "she's burning up"

It turned out it was the tumor. It had started to grow and was pressing. She had to have surgery right away to remove it.

After the surgery was complete and she woke up her mother and father were sitting on her bedside holding her hand, stroking her hair.

"Mommy," she whispered, "I'm sorry I ruined your birthday"

"Oh sweetheart," her mother said, "You didn't ruin anything. This is the best birthday I ever had. They managed to get the entire tumor and you're not sick anymore"

She looked confused.

"So why do I still feel yucky," she asked.

"You just had surgery princess," her dad explained, "It will take a little while before you feel better."

"So I don't have to have MEMO anymore?"

MEMO was the way she said chemo.

Her parents looked at each other.

"You still have to have that and P.H.B therapy until the end of the month," her mom said, "to make sure there are no stray cells the have escaped but it's a lot more mild and it won't make you feel as bad"

She looked like she wasn't sure if she should be happy or upset. She decided it was better to be happy. Still she couldn't muster it up to be too happy.

She still had to go though 'MEMO' and P.H.B. therapy which was painful. She had gotten used to it but she didn't like it at all. In fact she hated it. She knew it wouldn't be too much longer though. That alone made her feel better.