August 13th 2024.
Kirah Line, a 23-year-old from Cambridge, vividly remembers the experience of being diagnosed with cancer. It was July 2022 when she received the news that she had acute myeloid leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. The shock and disbelief hit her hard, and she admits that she zoned out after hearing the word "cancer" - it was all just a blur. Kirah started four rounds of chemotherapy, which ended in December 2022, and as a result, she lost her hair.
At first, Kirah thought she could handle it. She thought, "I can do this, it's fine." But when she actually started to lose her hair, she was devastated. It was a difficult adjustment, and she couldn't even bear to look in the mirror. She recalls crying her eyes out, feeling overwhelmed and scared. And then, just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, she was taken to the hospital on Christmas and put into an induced coma due to sepsis.
Kirah admits that she was terrified. She felt like time was running out and she hadn't even had a chance to speak to anyone before being put into the coma. She remembers being held down on the bed and being asked if there was anything she wanted to say. In that moment, all she could think about was her mom. She asked them to tell her mom that she loved her.
Despite being unconscious, Kirah's mom, Michelle, visited her every day. And even though Kirah was "completely out of it," she could still hear certain conversations at her bedside. Three weeks later, she woke up from the coma feeling calm and almost like she was in a dream. However, she also had some delusions, thinking that she had nearly drowned.
When Kirah was told about her cancer diagnosis for the second time, she was confused and upset at first. But then, she felt a sense of relief. She finally had some answers and could start to understand what was happening to her. Kirah is now in remission, and looking back, she admits that the experience was even harder than she had anticipated.
Through it all, Kirah has learned a lot about herself. She has seen the kindness in the nurses and staff who took care of her, and she encourages others to pay attention to their bodies and advocate for themselves. She believes that it's important to speak up and make sure your voice is heard. Kirah still has regular check-ups, but she has also returned to education. She completed an access course and will begin studying social work at Anglia Ruskin University in September as a way to give back.
Kirah's advice to others going through a similar experience is to hold onto hope and utilize the support available to them. She believes in advocating for yourself and not being afraid to ask for help, whether it's financial support or emotional support. Kirah admits that it can feel embarrassing, but she wouldn't be where she is today without the help and support of others. She has learned the importance of hope and the power of never giving up.
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