believe in your destiny and the process of becoming I’m 25 years old and I am a
of becoming I’m 25 years old and I am a
of becoming I’m 25 years old and I am a cancer of the salivary gland patient
cancer of the salivary gland patient
cancer of the salivary gland patient diagnosed two years ago and on this day
diagnosed two years ago and on this day
diagnosed two years ago and on this day two years ago 26th of October I was
two years ago 26th of October I was
two years ago 26th of October I was sitting on an uncle on a comfortable
sitting on an uncle on a comfortable
sitting on an uncle on a comfortable chair but getting a very uncomfortable
chair but getting a very uncomfortable
chair but getting a very uncomfortable hot liquid pumped into my system it was
hot liquid pumped into my system it was
hot liquid pumped into my system it was my first day of chemotherapy let me take
my first day of chemotherapy let me take
my first day of chemotherapy let me take you back to some time before that day so
you back to some time before that day so
you back to some time before that day so we understand why I believe that this
we understand why I believe that this
we understand why I believe that this journey to was my destiny
journey to was my destiny
journey to was my destiny how did Ania have to do this every few
how did Ania have to do this every few
how did Ania have to do this every few moments because of a lack of saliva but
moments because of a lack of saliva but
moments because of a lack of saliva but there’s a gain of a lot more so don’t
there’s a gain of a lot more so don’t
there’s a gain of a lot more so don’t worry I don’t feel sorry for me when I
worry I don’t feel sorry for me when I
worry I don’t feel sorry for me when I was 14 years old I tasted my first
was 14 years old I tasted my first
was 14 years old I tasted my first alcoholic beverage
alcoholic beverage
alcoholic beverage I wasn’t cautious I was an experience
I wasn’t cautious I was an experience
I wasn’t cautious I was an experience and I got caught and in true African
and I got caught and in true African
and I got caught and in true African culture was called to a meeting and you
culture was called to a meeting and you
culture was called to a meeting and you know the family was called to discuss
know the family was called to discuss
know the family was called to discuss issue that I think a lot of you are
issue that I think a lot of you are
issue that I think a lot of you are familiar with that process and one of my
familiar with that process and one of my
familiar with that process and one of my relatives said to me that you would be
relatives said to me that you would be
relatives said to me that you would be surprised if I finished high school the
surprised if I finished high school the
surprised if I finished high school the way I was going you know I laughed it
way I was going you know I laughed it
way I was going you know I laughed it off because I knew what my destiny was I
off because I knew what my destiny was I
off because I knew what my destiny was I had a plan and I was going to be the UN
had a plan and I was going to be the UN
had a plan and I was going to be the UN secretary-general so finishing high
secretary-general so finishing high
secretary-general so finishing high school was the least of my problems
school was the least of my problems
school was the least of my problems really and because I had my eye on the
really and because I had my eye on the
really and because I had my eye on the prize I recovered from that incident and
prize I recovered from that incident and
prize I recovered from that incident and many more very easily
many more very easily
many more very easily I moved high schools three times but
I moved high schools three times but
I moved high schools three times but despite that I was top of my class every
despite that I was top of my class every
despite that I was top of my class every single time leading up to the final year
single time leading up to the final year
single time leading up to the final year the equivalent of metric on the final
the equivalent of metric on the final
the equivalent of metric on the final year I participated in African schools
year I participated in African schools
year I participated in African schools debating championship I debated for
debating championship I debated for
debating championship I debated for Botswana and I had the privilege of
Botswana and I had the privilege of
Botswana and I had the privilege of meeting Nelson Mandela while he was
meeting Nelson Mandela while he was
meeting Nelson Mandela while he was around and another thing happened
around and another thing happened
around and another thing happened another remarkable thing happened was
another remarkable thing happened was
another remarkable thing happened was that I was offered a scholarship to
that I was offered a scholarship to
that I was offered a scholarship to study in a prestigious College in South
study in a prestigious College in South
study in a prestigious College in South Africa that wasn’t part of my systematic
Africa that wasn’t part of my systematic
Africa that wasn’t part of my systematic but I was hopeful that I could be able
but I was hopeful that I could be able
but I was hopeful that I could be able to accept the scholarship unfortunately
to accept the scholarship unfortunately
to accept the scholarship unfortunately my family was not prepared and I think I
my family was not prepared and I think I
my family was not prepared and I think I look back now and I know it’s for
look back now and I know it’s for
look back now and I know it’s for reasons of love but they were not
reasons of love but they were not
reasons of love but they were not prepared to allow me to move at
prepared to allow me to move at
prepared to allow me to move at seventeen years old into southern Africa
seventeen years old into southern Africa
seventeen years old into southern Africa to start school on my own over here so I
to start school on my own over here so I
to start school on my own over here so I missed that opportunity and it was my
missed that opportunity and it was my
missed that opportunity and it was my first time that I was disappointed and
first time that I was disappointed and
first time that I was disappointed and depressed and lost hope in my destiny
depressed and lost hope in my destiny
depressed and lost hope in my destiny that was the beginning of my end I was
that was the beginning of my end I was
that was the beginning of my end I was 18 years old I was not motivated I was
18 years old I was not motivated I was
18 years old I was not motivated I was not interested anymore
not interested anymore
not interested anymore because I thought there goes the UN
because I thought there goes the UN
because I thought there goes the UN Secretary General she for the first time
Secretary General she for the first time
Secretary General she for the first time I was not first I was ninth in my class
I was not first I was ninth in my class
I was not first I was ninth in my class I don’t even know who that guy in
I don’t even know who that guy in
I don’t even know who that guy in seventh place was and I was ninth in my
seventh place was and I was ninth in my
seventh place was and I was ninth in my class and that year the government of
class and that year the government of
class and that year the government of Botswana introduced a program with the
Botswana introduced a program with the
Botswana introduced a program with the top achievers giving scholarships to any
top achievers giving scholarships to any
top achievers giving scholarships to any university of their choice and because
university of their choice and because
university of their choice and because they were top achievers and with
they were top achievers and with
they were top achievers and with government funding there are no problems
government funding there are no problems
government funding there are no problems getting into the Ivy League schools that
getting into the Ivy League schools that
getting into the Ivy League schools that I always had my eye on so there we go I
I always had my eye on so there we go I
I always had my eye on so there we go I missed my opportunity in a moment
missed my opportunity in a moment
missed my opportunity in a moment because I looked away from my destiny
because I looked away from my destiny
because I looked away from my destiny there was very important lesson to learn
there was very important lesson to learn
there was very important lesson to learn day but it took me a while to learn it
day but it took me a while to learn it
day but it took me a while to learn it precisely it took me five years so I
precisely it took me five years so I
precisely it took me five years so I finished my high school in 2009 and I
finished my high school in 2009 and I
finished my high school in 2009 and I settled for the University of Botswana
settled for the University of Botswana
settled for the University of Botswana it is a good school but wasn’t the plan
it is a good school but wasn’t the plan
it is a good school but wasn’t the plan wasn’t it my systematic plan satisfy the
wasn’t it my systematic plan satisfy the
wasn’t it my systematic plan satisfy the University of Botswana and I studied law
University of Botswana and I studied law
University of Botswana and I studied law I was a mediocre law student in 2014
I was a mediocre law student in 2014
I was a mediocre law student in 2014 when my mother discovered a tumor in my
when my mother discovered a tumor in my
when my mother discovered a tumor in my mouth it had been sitting there painless
mouth it had been sitting there painless
mouth it had been sitting there painless or doorless bloodless nothing to bother
or doorless bloodless nothing to bother
or doorless bloodless nothing to bother me but in the eyes of my mother who was
me but in the eyes of my mother who was
me but in the eyes of my mother who was a dentist you could see that this was a
a dentist you could see that this was a
a dentist you could see that this was a problem they were never spoken about
problem they were never spoken about
problem they were never spoken about cancer and you two friends who lost
cancer and you two friends who lost
cancer and you two friends who lost their mothers to cancer and wouldn’t
their mothers to cancer and wouldn’t
their mothers to cancer and wouldn’t dare talk about it and this is why it’s
dare talk about it and this is why it’s
dare talk about it and this is why it’s so important that it is time to start
so important that it is time to start
so important that it is time to start telling our stories and I will lead you
telling our stories and I will lead you
telling our stories and I will lead you up to to that moment I was diagnosed
up to to that moment I was diagnosed
up to to that moment I was diagnosed with cancer the saliva gland which had
with cancer the saliva gland which had
with cancer the saliva gland which had never heard of I had no idea what they
never heard of I had no idea what they
never heard of I had no idea what they were
were
were thing about but there was no fear in me
thing about but there was no fear in me
thing about but there was no fear in me initially first of all it was okay I
initially first of all it was okay I
initially first of all it was okay I just got settled into this new life why
just got settled into this new life why
just got settled into this new life why you disrupting me again and that is the
you disrupting me again and that is the
you disrupting me again and that is the process of becoming and my destiny was
process of becoming and my destiny was
process of becoming and my destiny was written that this was going to happen I
written that this was going to happen I
written that this was going to happen I had two options
had two options
had two options I could either cower in to at a present
I could either cower in to at a present
I could either cower in to at a present state again as I had done before and let
state again as I had done before and let
state again as I had done before and let this consume me and define my path or I
this consume me and define my path or I
this consume me and define my path or I could own it and I decided to do the
could own it and I decided to do the
could own it and I decided to do the latter I had no choice I lost my hair
latter I had no choice I lost my hair
latter I had no choice I lost my hair I lost my beauty I lost my smile I lost
I lost my beauty I lost my smile I lost
I lost my beauty I lost my smile I lost everything that I had attached my
everything that I had attached my
everything that I had attached my identity to so I had to look deep into
identity to so I had to look deep into
identity to so I had to look deep into myself and say where is my life going I
myself and say where is my life going I
myself and say where is my life going I have this condition I have this
have this condition I have this
have this condition I have this situation we had no idea how long we
situation we had no idea how long we
situation we had no idea how long we were going to fight and we still don’t
were going to fight and we still don’t
were going to fight and we still don’t we’re still fighting but I know everyday
we’re still fighting but I know everyday
we’re still fighting but I know everyday I am living my destiny and I’m owning my
I am living my destiny and I’m owning my
I am living my destiny and I’m owning my destiny it was a very painful process
destiny it was a very painful process
destiny it was a very painful process going through treatment
going through treatment
going through treatment my parents oppose doctors so they were
my parents oppose doctors so they were
my parents oppose doctors so they were the first patients whenever we walked
the first patients whenever we walked
the first patients whenever we walked into a doctor’s office my doctors would
into a doctor’s office my doctors would
into a doctor’s office my doctors would begin by talking in medical Greek to
begin by talking in medical Greek to
begin by talking in medical Greek to them before then translating to me in
them before then translating to me in
them before then translating to me in English
English
English that I had cancer this is what we’re
that I had cancer this is what we’re
that I had cancer this is what we’re going to do and there were many terms
going to do and there were many terms
going to do and there were many terms thrown around and was very difficult for
thrown around and was very difficult for
thrown around and was very difficult for my parents
my parents
my parents another thing is I have two younger
another thing is I have two younger
another thing is I have two younger brothers who are my everything and you
brothers who are my everything and you
brothers who are my everything and you know there are very critical stages of
know there are very critical stages of
know there are very critical stages of their lives when I was diagnosed and
their lives when I was diagnosed and
their lives when I was diagnosed and they kept me going in a very emotional
they kept me going in a very emotional
they kept me going in a very emotional way they kept me going because I thought
way they kept me going because I thought
way they kept me going because I thought to myself you cannot you cannot give up
to myself you cannot you cannot give up
to myself you cannot you cannot give up when these boys are looking up to you my
when these boys are looking up to you my
when these boys are looking up to you my youngest brother was in his first year
youngest brother was in his first year
youngest brother was in his first year at the University of Bologna where I
at the University of Bologna where I
at the University of Bologna where I should have been orientating him and
should have been orientating him and
should have been orientating him and teaching him all the cool spots and
teaching him all the cool spots and
teaching him all the cool spots and showing the cool kids but I wasn’t there
showing the cool kids but I wasn’t there
showing the cool kids but I wasn’t there I was in hospital in Centurion far from
I was in hospital in Centurion far from
I was in hospital in Centurion far from home alone living in a lodge for as long
home alone living in a lodge for as long
home alone living in a lodge for as long as I could which was only a week before
as I could which was only a week before
as I could which was only a week before I was admitted into the hospital
I was admitted into the hospital
I was admitted into the hospital full-time
full-time
full-time um and my brother had to deal with that
um and my brother had to deal with that
um and my brother had to deal with that and a lot of times you would spend the
and a lot of times you would spend the
and a lot of times you would spend the nights alone at home because my mom and
nights alone at home because my mom and
nights alone at home because my mom and my dad had to be here nursing me because
my dad had to be here nursing me because
my dad had to be here nursing me because we don’t know what tomorrow is going to
we don’t know what tomorrow is going to
we don’t know what tomorrow is going to look like and my 18 year old freshman
look like and my 18 year old freshman
look like and my 18 year old freshman brother had to go to school you know I
brother had to go to school you know I
brother had to go to school you know I say this is my destiny because I was a
say this is my destiny because I was a
say this is my destiny because I was a mediocre law student and I don’t really
mediocre law student and I don’t really
mediocre law student and I don’t really read that much it wasn’t really the life
read that much it wasn’t really the life
read that much it wasn’t really the life I had planned anyway I may give an
I had planned anyway I may give an
I had planned anyway I may give an excuse but my brother is the
excuse but my brother is the
excuse but my brother is the hardest-working student I have ever seen
hardest-working student I have ever seen
hardest-working student I have ever seen because I wasn’t there to distract him
because I wasn’t there to distract him
because I wasn’t there to distract him and I wasn’t there to teach him my bad
and I wasn’t there to teach him my bad
and I wasn’t there to teach him my bad habits he works hard he sleeps late he
habits he works hard he sleeps late he
habits he works hard he sleeps late he wakes up early and he’s passionate about
wakes up early and he’s passionate about
wakes up early and he’s passionate about what he wants because he had that time
what he wants because he had that time
what he wants because he had that time and this is why I say this was my
and this is why I say this was my
and this is why I say this was my calling when my father called me the day
calling when my father called me the day
calling when my father called me the day I was diagnosed to tell me that my
I was diagnosed to tell me that my
I was diagnosed to tell me that my mother had seen something in my mouth
mother had seen something in my mouth
mother had seen something in my mouth and he needed to see it himself you know
and he needed to see it himself you know
and he needed to see it himself you know that was the beginning because my mother
that was the beginning because my mother
that was the beginning because my mother saw this tumor in my mouth and told my
saw this tumor in my mouth and told my
saw this tumor in my mouth and told my father before he been telling me told my
father before he been telling me told my
father before he been telling me told my father I saw something in her mouth
father I saw something in her mouth
father I saw something in her mouth my father called me and the first thing
my father called me and the first thing
my father called me and the first thing I asked him was where did you get my
I asked him was where did you get my
I asked him was where did you get my number from my father and I were not
number from my father and I were not
number from my father and I were not close at all in fact I despised him
close at all in fact I despised him
close at all in fact I despised him because I thought that he took away from
because I thought that he took away from
because I thought that he took away from me that opportunity to go to that school
me that opportunity to go to that school
me that opportunity to go to that school they are all connects that’s destiny
they are all connects that’s destiny
they are all connects that’s destiny it’s a journey I did not like him and I
it’s a journey I did not like him and I
it’s a journey I did not like him and I stayed in the cottage and I saw him as a
stayed in the cottage and I saw him as a
stayed in the cottage and I saw him as a favorite team right now he is my best
favorite team right now he is my best
favorite team right now he is my best friend because from the moment that we
friend because from the moment that we
friend because from the moment that we were told that I had cancer I became his
were told that I had cancer I became his
were told that I had cancer I became his everything and he became my biggest
everything and he became my biggest
everything and he became my biggest support tool there is nothing that I
support tool there is nothing that I
support tool there is nothing that I will need that he will not give and
will need that he will not give and
will need that he will not give and there is nothing that he will not know
there is nothing that he will not know
there is nothing that he will not know that he’ll not need that you wouldn’t
that he’ll not need that you wouldn’t
that he’ll not need that you wouldn’t ask for and I can be there to provide
ask for and I can be there to provide
ask for and I can be there to provide for him it’s very amazing that I get to
for him it’s very amazing that I get to
for him it’s very amazing that I get to provide for my father we used to be this
provide for my father we used to be this
provide for my father we used to be this almighty men and cancer showed us all
almighty men and cancer showed us all
almighty men and cancer showed us all the human side that we were hiding from
the human side that we were hiding from
the human side that we were hiding from each other
our family is closer than ever now
our family is closer than ever now because of this diagnosis and this is
because of this diagnosis and this is
because of this diagnosis and this is why I say that this is my destiny allow
why I say that this is my destiny allow
why I say that this is my destiny allow me to remind you back it’s that
me to remind you back it’s that
me to remind you back it’s that opportunity that I had the opportunity
opportunity that I had the opportunity
opportunity that I had the opportunity to study in father Africa for two years
to study in father Africa for two years
to study in father Africa for two years meant that after that I was going to
meant that after that I was going to
meant that after that I was going to proceed to study in an Ivy League
proceed to study in an Ivy League
proceed to study in an Ivy League university in the United States of
university in the United States of
university in the United States of America or in the United Kingdom that’s
America or in the United Kingdom that’s
America or in the United Kingdom that’s who they partnered with and it was
who they partnered with and it was
who they partnered with and it was guaranteed once you get into that
guaranteed once you get into that
guaranteed once you get into that college you move on right where would I
college you move on right where would I
college you move on right where would I have been in 2014 had I had that
have been in 2014 had I had that
have been in 2014 had I had that opportunity far away from my mother who
opportunity far away from my mother who
opportunity far away from my mother who looked into my mouth and realized that I
looked into my mouth and realized that I
looked into my mouth and realized that I had a monster growing inside me this was
had a monster growing inside me this was
had a monster growing inside me this was my destiny after having survived
my destiny after having survived
my destiny after having survived treatments and gone back to school I was
treatments and gone back to school I was
treatments and gone back to school I was redefined because it was no longer about
redefined because it was no longer about
redefined because it was no longer about the person you saw in the mirror it was
the person you saw in the mirror it was
the person you saw in the mirror it was about me inside that never presented
about me inside that never presented
about me inside that never presented myself like that to my peers or to
myself like that to my peers or to
myself like that to my peers or to anybody I was presented myself on the
anybody I was presented myself on the
anybody I was presented myself on the outside
outside
outside I had to redefine my destiny I to
I had to redefine my destiny I to
I had to redefine my destiny I to redefine my path and it was then that I
redefine my path and it was then that I
redefine my path and it was then that I began to share my story in a series of
began to share my story in a series of
began to share my story in a series of booklets titled facing cancer from under
booklets titled facing cancer from under
booklets titled facing cancer from under Emma I mean first of all who is this
Emma I mean first of all who is this
Emma I mean first of all who is this person who dares talk about cancer was
person who dares talk about cancer was
person who dares talk about cancer was the first response in Botswana because
the first response in Botswana because
the first response in Botswana because cancer was associated with a coffin but
cancer was associated with a coffin but
cancer was associated with a coffin but that was wrong and that is what people
that was wrong and that is what people
that was wrong and that is what people did not understand was that with
did not understand was that with
did not understand was that with resilience and with the early detection
resilience and with the early detection
resilience and with the early detection cancer is curable and with the hope
cancer is curable and with the hope
cancer is curable and with the hope cancer is curable and in the unfortunate
cancer is curable and in the unfortunate
cancer is curable and in the unfortunate events that it does not end in a cure
events that it does not end in a cure
events that it does not end in a cure life is full in those moments I have
life is full in those moments I have
life is full in those moments I have lived a full life ever since 2014 I
lived a full life ever since 2014 I
lived a full life ever since 2014 I would not be on this platform had I not
would not be on this platform had I not
would not be on this platform had I not had a cancer diagnosis and though I do
had a cancer diagnosis and though I do
had a cancer diagnosis and though I do not know where we’ll be two years from
not know where we’ll be two years from
not know where we’ll be two years from now what I will be doing I can tell you
now what I will be doing I can tell you
now what I will be doing I can tell you that every single day I live I value the
that every single day I live I value the
that every single day I live I value the time
time
time I have and I do the most with my life
I have and I do the most with my life
I have and I do the most with my life that I’ve been given an opportunity to
that I’ve been given an opportunity to
that I’ve been given an opportunity to be live and to redefine and it is about
be live and to redefine and it is about
be live and to redefine and it is about time we share our stories and it is
time we share our stories and it is
time we share our stories and it is about time we take control of our
about time we take control of our
about time we take control of our challenges and redefine our futures
”
Be First to Comment