“Cancer affects all of us, whether you’re a daughter, mother, sister, friend, coworker, doctor, or patient.” –Jennifer Aniston

There are many words that we hear in our lives that hurt us or scare us, but, there is nothing more terrifying then hearing the words that your baby sister has cancer. On October 25, 2004, my little sister Isabella Grosso was diagnosed with Leukemia. This was exactly one week before her third birthday. My whole family was affected by this diagnoses. This isn’t your typical sad sob story about a young child having cancer. This is more about what it’s like to be the sibling of a cancer kid.

Whenever cancer strikes a family, most people look at the child and the parents and often forget that the siblings are affected as well. There have been many times growing up that I would left out of things because “everything was about Bella.” It sounds ridiculous but you wouldn’t understand until you are in this position. Even today, I am still affected by Bella’s cancer. There were days when I would feel sick and I’d tell my mom, but she would say “you’re fine”. Then Bella would say she wasn’t feeling well and it was like the whole world was going to end. Whenever she would be sick or at the hospital, we would all have to “fend for ourselves” even though we would have a babysitter or my Nani there. This has made me a very independent person for sure.

All the time people would be bringing gifts for Bella, and treats for Bella, and food for Bella, but nothing was ever brought for My brothers and I. I don’t want to sound like I am selfish, but you must understand that it’s hard to have every single person that’s coming around your family only pay attention to one sibling. It often came to the point where I would be crying in my room wishing that I was the one who had cancer and that I was the one who would get all the gifts and attention.

Don’t get me wrong, along with all the being left out, there were also some amazing things that we did get to participate in. The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Bella her wish to go to Disney in Orlando Florida, so as a family we went on this trip. We got to go to Camp Good Days and Special Times where I met some of the most amazing people. I met other siblings that were having the same feelings as I was and we got to forget about the troubles at home. Camp Good Days will forever and always have a special place in my heart. There are so many other things that we have could take part in and I wouldn’t give any of it up.

Now that I am older, I have different feelings towards cancer. I hate it so much. I hate that it takes the lives of so many great people. I hate that it tears families apart. I don’t wish that I was the cancer kid, and I wouldn’t ever wish cancer on even my worst enemy. I love that while cancer makes you physically weak, it makes you strong willed. It doesn’t just tear people apart, but it brings people together. There have been so many families that my family has met that we are still in contact with to this day.

If you have ever met a young child fighting their way through cancer you will learn more than you think you would. There is so much hope and fight in those little eyes that the kids have, and it is such an inspiration. Although cancer sent my family through many ups and tons of downs, cancer has taught me to live every day to the absolute fullest and not take anything for granted.