Hello, My name is Marcel, and at the age of thirteen, I was diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, it is cancer of the nose and neck. Honestly, I was so young that I was unaware of the gravity of my situation. As I saw my mother and grandmother crying, I felt that I had to be strong for them. In my mind, I believed if I was strong enough, I could keep them from feeling the pain. Even though some things were awful, I chose to take them head-on, not to mention my heart stopped while I was having a Broviac catheter placed.

While in treatment, I used my time wisely daily. I would make goals for myself, like I would see how many nurses I could make smile in a day. Also, I enjoy writing, so I would ensure to write a specific number of pages per day, depending on my treatment schedule. My main focus was to keep a positive attitude and spirit. I used to think life could be so much worse (lol), as I was vomiting my brains out. Life is what you make it!

Are you strong enough to take on the challenges that life throws at you? Are you willing to fight for every single breath? Never let anything take control of your destiny. Do not let anyone or anything keep you from reaching your goals. Be motivated, inspired, and be sure to bless people along your journey. Throughout this life, you experience people, places, and things, do not take them for granted. Stay positive, keep your head high, and remember to put God first.