When I was eight years old, I had a perfect life. I had a great teacher, great school, and a great family. Then it all changed. I began to have strange stomach pains and no relief. I am not a complainer, so nobody knew about them for a long time. I was in bed one day when my parents were away when I began to throw up. My babysitter immediately paged my mom. She and my dad came home and drove me to the hospital.

When I arrived, the doctors gave me a blood test and a CAT scan. They realized that I had a tumor and rushed me to the emergency room. It was 4:00 in the morning. When I woke up I was weak and aching all over. When I tried to walk, my stomach felt knives of pain stabbing it. I had to hold a pillow...