I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Guess I've had a pretty good life for the most part. Been rough at times, wasn't sure I'd live through some of it, but here I am. Guess that's a good thing, huh? I got two real great parents who went through a lot for me. Can't tell ya how important it is to have folks who'd do that. I've got an older brother too, and a sister that's four years younger. We all get along real good, least as good as most families do. Maybe a little more cause we've been through more.

See, when I was six years old the doctors found out I had leukemia. That's a kinda cancer for those who don't know. Gives ya a whole new way of lookin' at things when you're so young and death stares at ya like that. It wasn't as bad for me as it was for my parents and my brother. My sister was too young then to know what was goin' on. I knew early on that there was a good chance I could die. Most kids that age don't understand much about death and dyin', but I learned quick. Sure, I was scared. But not as scared as my mom and dad, not even close. I remember layin' in bed and listenin' to my mom cry, she was so scared. My dad put off his sad feelin's to help her and my brother, who started takin' to sleepin' in my room with me so.. like he said.. he could get every minute with me in case I didn't have so many left. Guess I ended up havin' to be more of the grownup in all that. I remember the one time I saw my dad cry about it. He didn't know I was there when he started doin' it. I'd gone in to get some chemo treatments and I forgot somethin'. So I came out and there he was. Broke my heart so much. I went over and climbed in his lap, just huggin' him while he cried. I think part of him felt ashamed that he was caught cryin', but I made sure he knew there was nothin' wrong with it.

Anyway, chemo worked for awhile, I went into remission. Things started to look better till I was eight and I started gettin' symptoms again. Then came the chemo again and lotsa hospital stays. The chemo was the worst part, I always felt just horrible after it. I ain't even sure how much time total I spent in the hospital then, it was worse than before. Lotsa it's kinda a haze, though I still remember some things. My brother stayed in the room with me at the hospital as much as he could and my little sister was so confused cause she just didn't understand everything. It was almost a year of bein' in and out of the hospital and rackin' up huge bills that I finally started gettin' better again. I hit remission and gotta go home to stay. I was so behind in school and stuff but still wanted to go, so I did. Got made fun of by some kids cause my hair hadn't grown back yet from the chemo, but I could take it. I'd learned to laugh at myself to keep from cryin'. It was hard sometimes, but I did it anyway. Then it hit again....

This time I was 12. Started feelin' real sick and all and it was back to the doctor. I thought I'd had it bad before, but man, this time I was sure I was gonna die. So were the doctors. They decided after a bit that chemo wasn't gonna do it. So they started talkin' about marrow transplants. And they tested my family before sendin' out a call for registered donors. I got so lucky cause my brother matched me just perfect. So he jumped in and insisted on bein' the one to help. So they did that. It was scary, scarier than the other times, I think. Cause I somehow knew that if this one didn't work, I'd die. They did the transplant and watched me. And wow... my brother saved my life. With that and the other stuff, they got rid of it. Least it's gone so far, I hope it don't come back, I really do.

Life went on so much better after that. I got back into normal life mostly, goin' to school and all. I like school, sue me. Guess ya don't know how good it is till ya can't go. But there started to be some trouble there, gangs goin' there lookin' for recruits. It was hard for us that didn't wanna join cause they put lotsa pressure on. But then Miguel, who's gotta be the savior of just too many kids to count, pushed in to let us know we had help. Those of us that wanted it, took it. And I guess I just got caught up in the whole thing cause I learned how many kids die gettin' involved in all that. So I volunteered to help and Miguel was there for me. I told him about my cancer, never told anyone else in Las Panteras or anywhere that didn't already know. Didn't wanna be treated special or like I was fragile or somethin'. And Miguel never did, he treated me just like the others. Not like my teachers, who were real cool but just didn't understand I didn't need to be babied. I met Tricks when he joined up and we hit it off right away. He's so cool. One of those people that can't help but make ya laugh. Some people have a hard time takin' him, but not me. I plan on stickin' with him through everything, no matter what. He's had it hard and I gotta be there for him just like my family was always there for me. His ain't for him so he needs someone close to him to do that. And I gotta make him meet my family, I know they'll all get along so good. We're together forever far as I'm concerned. And even though he'll be around a lot longer than me, I'll be there for him long as he wants me. Cause I love him more than anything.