My Sister’s Battle
Monica Nguyen’s Journey Yesterday, the world lost one of the most beautiful and downright genuine girls I, along with many others have ever seen. This girl was only nineteen years of age when numerous forms of Cancer decided to take her life away.
After a year of fighting a hard and long battle against the merciless malignancy, my sister Monica Nguyen did not die in vain. Inspiring the world with her blogs, stories and her photography, Monica managed as always to gain a mass of loyal supporters who were there with her every step of the way.
It all began in August 2009 when Monica was diagnosed with Sarcoma in the upper thigh. Sarcoma is a malignant tumour arising from connective tissue such as muscle and is one of the four major types of cancer. Unfortunately her case of Sarcoma was one of the rarer cases, especially for her youthful age. Chemotherapy was said to be her only hope as it was the only form of solution to aggressively attack the cancer which was forming and progressively growing in her leg.
With much hope and strength, Monica held her head high and agreed to the remedy which was available to her. Chemotherapy caused my sister to lose all her hair slowly. But in my eyes, and the eyes of so many others, she was still the most beautiful and gorgeous girl. Her bubbly personality and perseverance complimented her even more as she inspired all walks of life. Unfortunately, chemotherapy did not work out for her despite the gruelling cycles she had to endure. The worst part of all, after a series of scans, it had turned out that the cancer was spreading gradually to her lungs.
Since chemotherapy was not responsive, doctors had recommended Monica to try a trial drug. After some good results, it turned out to be only false hope; she was not getting better because only a few months later; her cancer had ultimately, reached her brain. Although Monica had already experienced so much by this time, she had a positive outlook on everything. Many could agree with me that no matter how serious, alarming or painful her experiences were, she still managed to make a joke, giggle or find the brighter side to things. Neither chemotherapy nor the trail drug was effective so radiation was the last hope of all. But after two rounds of radiation, again, nothing seemed to get better.
With her heart weighed down the fight beginning to get harder and harder day by day , Monica began to get weaker and vulnerable before my eyes. Inevitably, on the 9th of September 2010, Monica took her last breath and said goodbye to the world. Although she never had the chance to say it to everyone around her, she had the chance to pass away in my mother’s arms. My Mum was first woman to hold her and see her as she brought her into this world, and she was the last woman to see her and hold her as she said goodbye to the world.
My heart breaks as I know I’ll have a future without her. We planned so much ahead but little did we know that the road would stop so suddenly. I will now spend my Christmas’ without you, my birthday without you, my wedding without you and whatever else. However I know there just must be a bright side to this, and although I can’t see any good reason for this at this very moment; I know she would want me to be happy, to be smiling and to pursue my every dream as she has wanted me to for the past seventeen years.
I’ll miss you every second and minute of my life and I’ll love you for eternity.
Please wait for me?
You promised me you’ll be at the gates of heaven to hopefully, welcome me in. Rest in peace beautiful angel.
Monica Nguyen: 23rd March 1991 - 9th September 2010
Love always and Forever your little sister Carina.
