Octavia was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 3 years old. She is in the maintenance phase.
What’s one thing you wish you had known in those first 48 hours?
“I wish I knew how strong I was, my family was, and my daughter was. We were so scared, but we have overcome a lot, and we are so much stronger than I ever thought we would be.”
What helped you the most in those first 48 hours?
“What helped the most is people coming out of the woodwork, people I haven’t talked to in years, coming out and praying and supporting us. It meant the world to me, and helped me remember we are not alone.”
What’s is one moment in those first 48 hours that you’ll never forget?
“I’ll never forget how fast it all happened. My daughter was diagnosed and in surgery into chemo all within a few hours. Hospital staff were giving so many forms to sign and giving us so much information to help us, all at once. It was chaos but it was a very productive chaos. I’m thankful for all of them that sprang to help so quickly.”
If you could go back, what’s one thing you’d tell yourself?
“I’d give myself pointers for caring for my daughter. Things that help her along the way. More than anything, I’d hug myself and tell her it’s going to be okay.”
This First 48 story was submitted by Marisa.