Ashley Carbonaro
My name is Ashley Carbonaro. After months of Doctors trying to figure out my illness with no answers, I finally got one once I visited Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. It wasn’t the answer my family or I wanted to get, but nonetheless, it was cancer. In December of 2011, I was diagnosed with advanced Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (large b-cell). My organs; my heart, my lungs and my throat were covered in cancer, restricting my body’s functions and my breathing.
I didn’t ask to have cancer, nor did I deserve it. I didn’t ask to be in the Pediatric ICU for almost a month total. I didn’t ask to be a 10-year-old girl losing my hair. I didn’t ask nor did I want to be in the hospital for Christmas, my birthday and for the next four months of my life while receiving multiple rounds of one week long chemotherapy treatments. I didn’t want the blood infections, or the port, or the mouth sores, or the bagged food pumped into me. I didn’t want to miss most of 5th grade with my friends. I didn’t want to, but I did.
“My goal is to make a difference in this world and I dream of being a child life specialist so I can give back to the kids the same way they gave to me.”
I never realized how close to Heaven that I came, until I look back. I am living proof of not only that miracles do happen; but also of the great things that are happening every day at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. From the Doctors (I love my doc Dr. Kerr) to the nurses to the child life specialists; all of which eased my fears and pain. All who are making huge gains in helping us children with cancer to WIN!
I am now ONE year in remission with my FAMILY’S support. Today I have my hair back and am in school with my friends in 6th grade. My goal is to make a difference in this world and I dream of being a child life specialist so I can give back to the kids the same way they gave to me. I will always be THANKFUL for having my hospital be Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.
