Bolinder 1

Markell Bolinder
Mrs. Griffin
English 1010
March 15, 2017
Battling for Life

The weather outside describes the emotions that I feel, complete darkness. It

is snowy, cold, and dark with flashing red lights outside my window. The sound of

high screeches and beeping as the ambulance backs into my driveway fills my body

with dread and sorrow. Constantly feeling lost as if I do not know what will happen

next and feeling as if I was living life in a black hole. My dad was diagnosed with

stage 3C cancer in October at the age of forty-nine. At the time I was not sure he

would even live for the cancer had spread tremendously throughout his entire

abdominal area and I thought it was too late. As my dad became weaker and

weaker, barely able to walk; I remember this one specific event, this journey all

started with a blood clot.

While lying in bed all tucked in, I heard a big bang and clash and I

immediately felt concerned. As I fluttered furiously try to find my glasses, I hear

loud and reckless footsteps sprinting up the stairs. I looked up to see my door flying

open as it slams and hits my wall, my mother in tears shouting call 911. I

grabbed my phone, sprinted down the stairs and took a piercing left turn to see my

dad. Eyes closed, skin as pale as a ghost, and passed out on the toilet seat. My

mom looked as if she was lost, not knowing what to do. The look of fear filled her

eyes as I instructed her to go fetch ice packs out of the freezer. Trying not to panic

myself, I place the ice packs firmly on the back of his neck and hold his weight up.
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911 whats the address of the emergency the dispatcher said while I

continued to try to wake my dad and keep him coherent, my brain could not think of

my home address. I try to repeat myself, explaining to her the information she

needs, and that he needs an ambulance fast. On the phone, battling my emotions

and trying not to cry, I see the red and white lights flashing through my front

window. I hear the sound of beeping as they back into my driveway while my mom

rushes to unlock the front door and I am terrified.

Finally, I see the medics come through the front door in the reflection of the

bathroom mirror. I thank God, someone was here to help, but by this time my dad

had woke up. As my body was trembling with terror, I was then asked by the med

crew to grab all of his prescriptions; as I walk across the kitchen and gather them up

in a bag. At this moment, I was not sure what was going to happen, but I knew

something was extremely wrong.

I hear from the other room Alan. Can you tell me your date of birth? the

medics attempt to ask him as he is complaining of tremendous chest pain. One

medic hooking him up to a heart monitor, another taking his vitals, and while yet

another trying to keep him from passing out again. I felt completely mixed up and

as if everything was a blur, while I try to process in my head what was actually

going on.

Alright Alan, we are going to go ahead and take you to the ER and get you

checked out, see what is going on. As the medic team picks up my dad and lays

him flat on the bright yellow stretcher, I pray they will provide him the care he

needs. The sound of Velcro pulling apart, as the paramedics strap him securely onto

the gurney. Realizing he had passed out once again, I knew it was important for him
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to get help. I see my dad lying on the stretcher and the doors of the ambulance

shut as the cold snow surrounds my shoeless feet.

My mom, little sister and I all sit in the emergency room as medical crews

rush in and out of the room. After several imaging sessions, countless needles and

tests we hoped that his blood clot had not broken loose to his lungs. As I sit and

stare at the thousands of black holes on the ceiling and pray for answers, we got

the news he would need to spend a few nights.

I look back at the nights I spent laying on the hospital couch, eating hospital

food, and refusing to leave my dads side. The chemo had taken over his body and

he was battling for his life every day. For all the sleepless nights, the continuous

medical bills we received every day in the mail. I learned that life of a person you

love can be taken at any minute and so quickly; a flash before your eyes and things

change. For my life changed drastically spending my days caring for my dad, work,

and attending school. I had to believe that my dad would be okay and live, for I

never knew what would happen next. I simply gained the knowledge that I need to

be brave, and learned to live life blind, for I never knew what would happen in the

future.

Until now although my dad is still battling with a few smaller issues, he is now

officially in remission and this fills my heart with joy. For something like cancer that

had threw a tornado in my familys lives, is now gradually getting better. If I had one

tip of advice to say to anyone, including the person reading this narrative, it is to

always look past the negatives in life and be positive. To always, love your loved

ones, for you never know what will happen to them tomorrow.