Paige Pickering is an 18-year-old Cochrane High School graduating student, who has been battling ovarian cancer. She has been in remission for 15 months and is feeling much healthier.
Paige Pickering is an 18-year-old Cochrane High School graduating student, who has been battling ovarian cancer. She has been in remission for 15 months and is feeling much healthier.
The following speech was written by Paige and read by Jaimie Firlott to her graduating class.
Life is a journey...and only you hold the map.
Hello Cochrane High graduates, families, friends and teachers. I'm Paige and this is my journey.
I want to start by sharing one of my happiest days, the day I met Avril Lavigne.
I got a makeover, a shopping spree, a limo, the concert. I got to hangout with some bands - Evan T. and The New Cities. Then I met Avril. She was so nice and so pretty. She gave me tickets to her show in Calgary. It was so awesome!
Exactly one month later, I was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. Two days later I had major surgery to remove a seven pound cancerous tumor. I started chemo as soon as I was strong enough. I did four rounds of chemo. It made me feel really sick. I was so weak I couldn't even get out of bed. I was really hoping that I wouldn't lose my hair, but I did. My dad, my brother and me all shaved our heads. I started a beaded journey in the hospital. All the kids with cancer have one. When I got it, it had my name and one bead representing my diagnosis. Every chemo, every needle, every hospital visit or stay, every test and scan and every blood transfusion, I got a bead. Every beaded journey is different. Mine is long now. It's over 300 beads long and, because my journey will last my whole life, I will continue to add beads.
I met many people while on my journey. One very special friend fought so hard and so long and so bravely...Ty, passed away last September. I added him in the slideshow. He's the second last picture. I will always hold him in my heart.
This year I got a town snowman to decorate. Timmy came in first place. We won $200 to give to a charity. I chose Helping Families Handle Cancer. They help pay bills for families whose children are fighting cancer.
I'm really lucky to be here today. I feel great! I'm healthy, I'm 15 months in remission, and I'm at grad!
The following slideshow shows my journey. These pictures were for me and my family, but tonight I share them with all of you. Cancer is real and it sucks.
I didn't choose this journey, it chose me.
My dad says I'm the strongest person he knows. I say, 'you never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.'
Thank you Cochrane High for all your support and a very special thanks to my friend Jaimie.
TONIGHT WE PARTY LIKE ROCKSTARS!
