October 22, 2002
I hope that this letter will find you, your friends and your family well. FIVE years have passed. Yes, five years have come and gone. At times I can't believe that five years ago doctors told me I had three months to live, and then at other times it feels like it was only yesterday.
Before I go further, I need to thank everyone for everything that they have done. Life would not be what it is today without all of you in it. People sometimes ask me how I get the strength to go on living. The answer is that all I have to do is look around me at all the support, happiness, and yes, even the sorrow. Then I know that if I could only do one thing with my life it would be to see someone smile an instant longer, thank someone for being there through thick and thin, and tell someone how much they have touched my life. OK, I am sorry if I make you cry, but the truth is that I need and love all of you.
Now on with the show. I am having a very exciting year this year. It all started on my 16th birthday! Yes, I am driving, so watch out. My "family" had a surprise party for me and I received a huge gift. I got a VW BEETLE!! It is so nice to go where I want and to be able to go all by myself. The next big surprise came last week. My parents arranged for a trip to Disney World, to make up for the lousy time we had on my Make A Wish, and then, yes there is more, we will be going on a short cruise in the Bahamas!! HEHEHE! YIPPIE! I can't believe it. I am so excited. Four days before we leave on the trip I plan on going to homecoming with friends. It will be a blast. I am still doing great in school and am on the honor roll, and I received another academic pin for last year. The other significant achievement I got this year was being selected as one of the Mayor's 100 Teens. It is a program that recognizes 100 outstanding teens in the community each year.
Five years is an amazing feat. I am happy to have shared it with all of you. SURVIVOR is a word I have always known and now maybe I will be given that title officially. CELEBRATE LIFE. It really is fun and fantastic. Celebrate for you and everyone you love and have loved. Be happy and thankful for everything you are and have in life. LIFE is such a short work, and I wonder at the effect this word can have on an individual, a family, and even a community. May God bless your year and your life like he has mine.
For the original version of this letter, click here.
Before I go further, I need to thank everyone for everything that they have done. Life would not be what it is today without all of you in it. People sometimes ask me how I get the strength to go on living. The answer is that all I have to do is look around me at all the support, happiness, and yes, even the sorrow. Then I know that if I could only do one thing with my life it would be to see someone smile an instant longer, thank someone for being there through thick and thin, and tell someone how much they have touched my life. OK, I am sorry if I make you cry, but the truth is that I need and love all of you.
Now on with the show. I am having a very exciting year this year. It all started on my 16th birthday! Yes, I am driving, so watch out. My "family" had a surprise party for me and I received a huge gift. I got a VW BEETLE!! It is so nice to go where I want and to be able to go all by myself. The next big surprise came last week. My parents arranged for a trip to Disney World, to make up for the lousy time we had on my Make A Wish, and then, yes there is more, we will be going on a short cruise in the Bahamas!! HEHEHE! YIPPIE! I can't believe it. I am so excited. Four days before we leave on the trip I plan on going to homecoming with friends. It will be a blast. I am still doing great in school and am on the honor roll, and I received another academic pin for last year. The other significant achievement I got this year was being selected as one of the Mayor's 100 Teens. It is a program that recognizes 100 outstanding teens in the community each year.
Five years is an amazing feat. I am happy to have shared it with all of you. SURVIVOR is a word I have always known and now maybe I will be given that title officially. CELEBRATE LIFE. It really is fun and fantastic. Celebrate for you and everyone you love and have loved. Be happy and thankful for everything you are and have in life. LIFE is such a short work, and I wonder at the effect this word can have on an individual, a family, and even a community. May God bless your year and your life like he has mine.
For the original version of this letter, click here.
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