Dominique
This is the story of Dominique:
Dominique D. remembers the day she heard the words that would change her life forever. "I was scared, not knowing what was going to happen or what the outcome would be," she recalls. "Hearing 'you have cancer,' your mind definitely jumps to the worst-case scenario."
In the summer of 2008, Dominique was diagnosed with cancer and began outpatient chemotherapy immediately. Her initial treatment ended in August of that year, and she was declared in remission. But just as she began to regain a sense of normalcy, the cancer returned in June of 2009. "I relapsed and underwent inpatient chemotherapy and 22 days of radiation over the course of the following six months," Dominique explained. "I was put into remission on December 29, 2009."
Treatment was grueling. The first time, though tough, was manageable. "I was tired all the time and lost my hair," Dominique said. "But when I relapsed less than a year later, my doctor decided to do a harsher treatment to try to get rid of the cancer for good. I spent more time in the hospital than out during the summer of 2009, feeling isolated from the outside world. It was rough; I was constantly sick and exhausted."
Despite the physical and emotional toll, Dominique found ways to cope. "Listening to music, doing art, and surrounding myself with friends who understood what I was going through helped a lot," she says. These friends were primarily from the Candlelighters Teen Scene group, who played a significant role in her journey.
Dominique clearly remembers her introduction to Candlelighters. "I was at my oncologist’s oƯice when Jacki York's shining face came in with a blue bag of goodies and supplies to help with my journey," she says. "From that moment, I knew that I would have a support system that understood what I was going through."
Candlelighters became a cornerstone of Dominique's support network. "Teen Scene and Camp were my favorite things about Candlelighters," she recalls. "Both places allowed me to be myself and not have to worry about my diagnosis because everyone was there for similar reasons. We could just be ourselves and make friendships that would last a lifetime."
The impact of Candlelighters on Dominique’s cancer journey was profound. They provided not only practical support but also emotional support programs. "Candlelighters helped create such positive memories for me," she says. "Instead of my memories being tainted by the cancer that plagued my life, they are full of fun memories of me just being a kid with my amazing new friends and family."
When Dominique finally completed her treatment, the first thing she did was celebrate. "We had a big family dinner, and I felt like I could finally breathe again," she shares.
Reflecting on her experience, Dominique has valuable advice for other children facing cancer. "A piece of advice I would share with other kids that are battling cancer is to not lose hope," she says. "Take things one day at a time. Some days are going to be tough, but lean on your friends and family to help brighten your days."
