Personal Narrative: My Experience With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

When I was five years old, I had to go through a hard experience that I have never thought that I would ever have to conquer through. I was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. It all started when my parents had taken me to a dentist appointment. While we were at the dentist appointment, we had discovered through x-rays, my orthodontist told me that I needed surgery. My family was very confused on why I would need to go get surgery but they still took me. When my parents had discovered I have an abdominal aortic aneurysm, I had never seen my parents so broken and sad. In fact, doctors also told my parents that it was very rare for a young girl like me to be diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Also, usually people who had it
I honestly did not know how serious it was. My sister was only 15 years old at that time and we were not close as other sisters are but when she saw me go in the test room, I have never seen her breakdown so hard. However, it also made our relationship change after that experience. I remember many nights where my mom would stay on the chair next to my bed because the hospital was located at the Children’s Hospital in Oakland and we lived in Modesto. So, my parents thought it would be better if one of them stayed back while the other goes home and work. One day, I was on my bed and my cousin who is very close to me from today, she was running towards my bed and she hugged me so hard. She was a year older than me and I always looked up to her. When she stopped hugging me, she told me that home did not feel the same without me being there. I had never thought that how things could completely change from there because when I got home from the hospital. There were many things that were difficult that I had to
The drive to Oakland and back was by far exhausting. I remember that I was always excited to go to these appointments for a fact because I loved the cafeteria food for some strange reason. Along with the appointments, there were times where I could not eat for a whole two hours because the doctors would want to do an ultrasound on me. The ultrasound was always long that the doctor would turn on movies for me to watch. My parents mostly felt frightened every time the doctor came out the ultrasound room because they always felt expected to receive bad news. I can see why my parents were fearful because I am their only little girl in the house; in the matter is because my siblings were already at the house by eighteen.
As a matter fact, this experience had changed my bond with my parents. I am beyond grateful for the both of them. I could not imagine how horrifying it would be If I was not able to survive. I am so thankful that I am alive til this day. That experience had changed my life for the better. It changed my relationship with my entire family completely. Before that surgery, I was always closed off and distant with my family. Now, I have grown to be closer to them. My siblings always motivate me and check up whenever they can. My parents also support me with what I have chosen to do in the