I was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at the age of 2 years old. I consider myself a very lucky person as I was fortunate enough to have suffered from the Unilateral form which only meant losing my right eye. For anyone reading this and is battling retinoblastoma or is a family member of someone that is going through this, I promise you that life is beautiful, and it will get better. These hard times will mould you into a stronger and more resilient individual.
People might ask themselves why some things happen to them but unfortunately, we will never have an answer to that question. It is surely difficult to try and comprehend why our own body is fighting itself and we have no control over what’s going on, except waiting and hoping for the best. Mindset and support from those closest to you is the defining factor that fuels you with energy to overcome not only retinoblastoma but any situation that occurs in your life.
As I am from Malta, I had to travel regularly to the UK for check-ups, operations and trying out different prosthetic eyes amongst other reasons. Travelling has become a part of my life because it opens your mind to new horizons. This summer I have managed to cross something off my bucket list, Skydiving in Belgium! This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Travelling and experiencing different cultures around the world will continue to be one of my main priorities in life.
Having dealt with retinoblastoma has never halted my desire to achieve anything I wanted to. In 2021, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy and Marketing.
I am now in the last few months of my Master’s Degree specialising in Accountancy which will lead me to become an Accountant.
I’d like to imagine my retinoblastoma journey as a rollercoaster ride. The moment you step into the carriage before the ride starts, all sorts of emotions spark with fear being a dominant factor. This is the same with any cancer patients, the fear of the unknown and what could occur is a feeling that not everyone can understand. Just like a rollercoaster, you will have your ups and downs, happy and sad moments but what’s most important is the final destination. Having conquered this journey myself I can assure you that all these emotions will continue to be present in my life, but ultimately it is up to me to decide what approach I take to face these challenges.
Retinoblastoma has taught me that anything is possible in life and if you can dream it, then you can achieve it. Having this kind of disability should not limit you from anything. Most importantly you shouldn’t feel like you are less than others, but to use that energy to strive and achieve greater things. The sun always shines after the storm!
If you’d like to talk to one of CHECT’s support team, you can get in touch.
