Originally written on 01/24/2006…

I have a sister. She is two years younger than me.

Three years ago today she was diagnosed with leukemia, AML.

She was 25.

She is now in remission.

But, we almost lost her a couple of times.

I was doing my student teaching at the time.

When things were looking really bad, the doctors said that I could not see her.

Because I was with children everyday, it was possible to expose my sister to germs.

She had no immune system at the time due to the chemotherapy.

I could do nothing. I wasn’t a bone marrow match.

I was helpless.

I was devastated.

A walking zombie.

And to top it all off, the hospital had to fire one of her nurses for stealing my sister’s pain medication. My sister was in excruciating pain for days before we figured out the problem. The nurse had been giving her other meds, useless meds, in place of what she needed.

What if she didn’t make it?

How could I live with myself if I wasn’t able to see her before she was gone?

Thank God she pulled through.

Due in no small part to her sense of humor.

She would always find the humor in the situation.

Her first words to me after she told me she had leukemia were, “If I die before I get to see the last two Lord of the Rings movies, I will kill you.” (I was the one to convince her to see the first one.)

When she lost her hair, she said, “Well, at least I don’t have to shave my legs now.”

When I finally did get to see her, she would let me rub her bald head for good luck, like a Buddha belly. She has a beautiful, round head.

She made fun of me when I chopped my hair off to two inches long because I didn’t want her to feel alone with losing her hair.

Our relationship before leukemia was practically non-existant.

Today it is healthy and strong.

Just like she is.

I love you Kelly.

My favorite nerd girl.

Freak.

Beyonce.

I’m so glad you’re here.

Your sister,
Me