Emily+M’s+Final+AmEx+2013+Speech



= = =Title of Speech=

=Text of Speech= I wish there was an easier, faster, healthier, curable way to terminate cancer and diseases. I have witnessed how these diseases, these unexpected malignant cancer cells spread to ones who seemed healthy just a month ago, but are now suffering inside and out by the radiation and chemotherapy that is sucking the life out of these living corpses, these brave souls. I have witnessed too many incidents where, if a patient survives the treatment, they cannot live to their full potential or even accomplish who they wanted to be. And then I have seen too many incidents where the patient, the victim can’t bear the pain any longer to the point where they finally take their last breath at home or in a hospital bed, surrounded by the loved ones who are feeling confused, scared, heartbroken.

I have seen too many incidents…

I wish I never had to witness my friend bury his father after his father suffered the long and impenetrable fight to get rid of his cancer. His dad could not see him on his first day of high school nor give him the “father speech” at his Bar Mitzvah. Although his father will not be able to witness his son graduate, go to college, get married, he would be very blessed and proud to have him as a son.

I have seen too many incidents…

I wish the death of a loved one wouldn’t affect my other friend so profoundly. After the couple of treatments his dad endured, his father felt as if he couldn’t bear the pain of treatments any longer and he told the doctor to stop giving him the treatments. Bewildered by his father’s decision, my friend felt his father was selfishly giving up on him and his family. This pain, this agony thinking that his father easily confirmed his own death sentence; my friend went through hell and back with drug abuse and depression. From there, he had to spend most of his sophomore year of high school in rehab.

I have seen too many incidents…

I wish a seventeen year old girl like me does not have to suffer from arthritis and be in so much pain that she can’t even get out of bed or get ready for school. The pain has become so significant, the make- up work for school and her added homework has been difficult and a challenge to this everyday problem. She is unable to play sports or hang out with friends whenever she wants to. She is stuck with this disease, this discomfort. With her lack of attendance at school, she worries of her teachers failing her in her classes. The disease is not her only worry in her life. With a weak immune system, she is cautious of all that is around her and the friends and family that she is exposed to. I have seen too many incidents… I wish my sister did not have to constantly be worried about her boyfriend who suffers from Crohn’s disease. Every week that I see him, he has become skinnier and skinnier. No medication helps with his pain, his stress. Similarly, my best friend also has to worry about her mom’s health and frequent visits to the hospitals as she suffers from the same incurable disease. At the age of 47, she weighs the amount of a fifth grader, a mere 90 pounds (on her good days).

I have seen too many incidents…

I wish the little four year old boy in my mom’s preschool class did not have to question where his “daddy is” after his dad was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer and died a short couple months later with a newborn baby on the way. Now, with the single mom in a panic, he has to explain to his classmates when they get picked up from their dad’s at school that his daddy went to heaven and can no longer pick him up from his tiring day at preschool.

I have seen too many incidents…

I wish my dad could play the sport he loves, be the person he was before cancer, have ability to sleep normally, and not be checked up on by doctors every month. Yes, I know he is very happy and very lucky to still be in my life and survive stage 4 melanoma. However, the long treatments and years spent living in a hospital bed has stopped my dad fulfilling what he wanted to do before he was diagnosed. He can no longer play competitive tennis nor go through a day without a nap and a bedtime of 8 at night. He can no longer walk as well on his swollen, treated leg. He can no longer sleep well because of his neuropathy and memories of the hospital. Even when I get injured from a soccer game, my dad can’t take me to the hospital without feeling scared and shaken. When I am very sick, I have to stay isolated from my dad because of his weak immune system. He forgets the words I would tell him just two hours ago because of his chemo brain. He has changed from the treatments and is unable to live up to his full potential.

I have seen too many incidents…

I wish in the America I live in, we can find an easy cure to all diseases and cancers. A cure the will save all and a cure where the victims can live up to their full potential without being held back from the treatments and battle wounds. I hope future America will find a possible, simplistic way to help those who are suffering, to help those who are wishing. I have seen too many incidents. Sadly, I am not the only one [M1].

[M1]

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