During the winter months, it is a frequent occurrence for individuals to fall ill. Similarly, it is common for people to delay seeking medical attention, especially when they are only dealing with a cough.
Everyone has experienced getting sick, taking some time to recover, and then gradually getting well.
However, if your symptoms don’t go away and you feel sick for a long time, it might be a good idea to call a health care helpline and get some advice.
Although it is true that your body is usually strong enough to fight off colds and flu without treatment, your cough may be caused by something far more serious than just a virus.
Shayla Mitchell, a 16 years of age, was experiencing a cough that would not go away and didn’t feel quite right. She initially believed that she might have developed sinusitis.
On a particular day, the situation worsened to such an extent that she approached her father, Tom, requesting his assistance in visiting a doctor.
He willingly agreed, and after school the following day, he took up his daughter and rushed her to the hospital. They even decided to have a meal together afterward.
After Shayla underwent an examination, the doctor temporarily left the room. Upon his return, he carried a life-altering message that would forever transform her existence.
Shayla’s breasts were occupied by an exceedingly large cancerous tumor, occupying nearly two-thirds of the space. Furthermore, the tumor had induced the collapse of one of her lungs, which had been the cause of her prolonged discomfort and incessant coughing.
Shayla and her father decided to continue with dinner despite the news, even though they had to have it in a hospital rather than a restaurant. They had no idea that Fairfax Hospital’s pediatric oncology unit would serve them the next 450 meals at the time.
Shayla was diagnosed with an advanced stage of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and the outlook for her condition was unfavorable.
Tom made the decision to show his daughter that he would always be there for her. He promised to wear his matching bracelet every day until Shayla beat the cancer, so he went to a store and bought one for each of them.
Tom and his daughter fought the terrible disease together for a number of years, spending hundreds of nights together.
Shayla got through many tests, blood bondings, radiation treatment, chemotherapy and a heart failure, however she fought constantly.
Tom felt discomfort as a result. He was brave with her while she sobbed, laughed, and threw up while holding his daughter’s hair.
Then the moment arrived when doctors realized there was nothing else they could do for Shayla. A bone marrow transplant had failed, and her body wasn’t reacting to the medication.
On the Love What Matters Facebook page, Tom wrote the following:
“How on earth was I expected to engage in this discussion with my beloved daughter?” he expressed. “How could I gather enough courage to inform my daughter that she was facing her mortality? I once came across a quote that encapsulates my sentiments: ‘Can a man still be brave if he is afraid? . That is the only time he CAN be brave.“
“I realized that I had to summon bravery for HER sake! And so, I indeed had that conversation with her, and unbelievably, it unfolded as the most extraordinary, beautiful, magical, and splendid conversation I have ever had in my entire life. It is an experience I sincerely hope you NEVER EVER have to endure.”
Tom’s daughter responded when he had finished speaking, whispering, “Am I still brave, Dad?”
Tom saw how much pain his little girl was in when he looked back into her eyes. She’d been battling for such a long time, and he understood it wasn’t so much for her, however for him.
Shayla died a short time later. Despite Tom’s devastation, he was certain of one thing: Shayla had fought long and hard, kept her promise, and remained brave until the end.
Kindly spread this narrative among your Facebook friends as a way to pay tribute to Shayla and all the other children who have lost their lives to cancer.