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H E A L T H A N
D M E D I C I N E
Adding Life
Excerpted from Fighting Chance by
Harry Connolly
Halfway through his junior year in high school, Keith Patrick was
diagnosed with cancer. So began the battle of his life--a battle
captured in pictures by photographer Harry Connolly, who spent
three years following three pediatric oncology patients in (and
out) of Hopkins Hospital.
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I wasn't afraid of the cancer. The cancer didn't hurt. It's the
chemo that hurts. I started the chemotherapy because I didn't
want to leave my dog. Who would feed her, look after her? I did
it for Mom and Dad. I didn't do it for me. I didn't want to do
it. Period. |
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Chemo is maturity in a bottle. When you have to fight for
tomorrow, you grow up today. You fight better as an adult. I'm
going to be as different as I want to be. I'll say whatever I
want to say. |
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Keith is a typical teenager. Keith never believed that something
bad would happen to him and he went on with his life as if
nothing had happened. And that's wonderful.
--Dr. Kastan |
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What good has come of this? That he's alive. Without the chemo, I
would never have seen him dress up for the prom, I would never
have seen him be the best man at his brother's wedding. I would
not have seen him dressed up today for his new job. The longer he
lives, the more memories I have--seeing him jumping on the
trampoline or playing basketball. Look what he's been able to
experience: he's got a beautiful girlfriend, great friends. He's
got so much now he didn't have then. He's added to his life. That
is what living is about. You keep adding life. Every day. |
RETURN TO
JUNE 1998 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
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