My name is Saki, and I just beat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia!
I received my sudden diagnosis… I would say, May 14th, & I began my hospital stay at UCSF Benioff in San Francisco on May 20th. Throughout the roller coaster of a month & a week that I stayed inpatient, I found myself in the world of medical empathy, for I had been in the care of oncologists, nurses, social workers, & therapists that were shining with nothing but absolute love, empathy, & dependency. I have nothing but respect & love for the family I found as I received the ever-so-frightening chemotherapy, & other miscellaneous invasive treatments. But in reality, chemotherapy is pretty boring! All I needed to do was sit back, continue stuffing my face with saltines, & keep enjoying watching Guy Fieri roll around the country in his iconic red Chevy Camaro — on the hunt for good eats, as I was slowly, quietly pumped with a liquid not unlike orange Gatorade.
After a month of blood draws, suddenly losing hair & getting a Doc Brown hairstyle before my quintessential cancer shave, crazy orange fluids, & surprisingly gourmet hospital food, I was set free from my hospital stay on June 27th, 2020! I was free to continue my old life — within major COVID19 quarantine standards, & I’ve since remained cozily bundled in a perfect apartment right on the San Francisco Bay.
To my absolute joy & blessing, as of July 1st, 2020, I am completely CANCER FREE!! Onward, I’ll be continuing my treatment & personally working to keep my body healthy & growing, & this miracle had given me inspiration to do many things I’d previously never consider before!
Then to finally cut to the chase… as I type this on July 2nd, 2020, is the day that this fantastically adorable quilted heart found its way into my life! During my very first travel to my first appointment back to the hospital, among the beautiful plant life that hugs UCSF Benioff was a beautiful blue heart, adorned with a loving little bear! Hanging from a flimsy branch & begging for freedom, I felt it a sign from the powers that be that love is truly all around me — that I am cherished & watched over. I knew I had to follow the note; now I find myself elated to share this story. A story that I do hope is a cornerstone of faith for others that are in the boat I once traveled in.
To whom it may concern: everything’s going to be okay! Just hang in there!
