Naomi was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at 14 years old. She is in treatment.
What’s one thing you wish you had known in those first 48 hours?
“That second opinions would take months to get.”
What helped you the most in those first 48 hours?
“My training from 21 years in the Air Force under extreme stress, disasters and more.”
What is one moment in those first 48 hours that you’ll never forget?
“The cancer moms who called me, offered wisdom and support. Most who lost their children and two with survivors.”
If you could go back, what’s one thing you’d tell yourself?
“Don’t waste your energy on feeling alone in this. Keep helping your daughter and other families, because that’s what matters in this fractured ecosystem that is pediatric cancer treatment in America – families have to do the fighting for medicine, trials, therapies the whole nine. The system is set up for profit, not saving all the kids’ lives.”
This First 48 story was submitted by Erin.