Sarah - 15 years old

The thing that's the worse? Seeing my mum, such a strong woman, going to be so weak.

My mum was always there for me. We were never like best mates or anything, and we didn't really do all that much stuff together. She was just a normal mum, and she was strong. She was there to have fun with, and I guess to clean up after me. That's how it always was anyway. I guess I didn't take what she did as much of a big deal, she was just mum. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour the month before my 15th birthday. It was operated on the fortnight before, and then she was home the day before the big day. It wasn't so special, there was the shadow of what it was mum had hanging over everyone. Then we found out it was cancer. Only 22 people had it in the world from 1975-1995. It's mostly a child's cancer and it's very bad for adults - well the treatment is. Now I listen to my mum asking us to let her die, and saying she doesn't care about us or anyone or anything. It's really hard, she doesn't remember my name a lot of the time, but I know that she has a chance of getting through this, even if she doesn't realise it herself. We know we just have to keep going, and that's all my dad and I can do. The thing that's the worse? Seeing my mum, such a strong woman, going to be so weak. But you have to deal right? There's no other choice?

Page updated 18 July 2012