My name is Kasie. It started when I was 12 years old and in 7th grade. I developed a large goiter on my lower neck. After many tests that came out suspicious I went in to surgery early morning of July 2005. It lasted 6 hours. I had my whole thyroid, 4 lymphoids, and 9 nodules removed all consisting of cancer cells and tumors. I'll never forget that night when the nurse was wheeling me in to my room and my Mom told me that I did have cancer. I didn't know how to react or what to say. I was nervous and I didn't know what was coming up next. I was full of questions but too afraid to ask. I stayed quiet and I didn't talk about it much at first but I have found out lately that talking and sharing my story can help me deal with everything better and help relate with a lot of other people facing similar things. After 4 days in the hospital recovering from surgery I started 8th grade and even a new school. A week later I started treatment. The best treatment to cure my kind of cancer was radioactive Iodine. I had to be in isolation for at least 5days. No one was allowed in my room and I was not allowed out!! I got through it and went in to remission for about a year until I got the news in September 2006 that they found hot spots, which are possible cancer cells. I immediately went back into treatments. I just recently got back in to remission November 2007 and happier than ever. Although the treatments have caused many small problems I thank God each and everyday for helping me get rid of the big problem I had to face. Although it is such a horrible thing it has gave me some of the best experiences I could ever ask for. Every year now I volunteer at different cancer camps such as Boggy Creek, Camp Rap-A-Hope, Miracle Camp, and Imus Ranch all in which I have meet many young kids all around the United States. Each and everyday that I spend at these camps I always learn something new or do something that I never thought I could do. I don't have any friends at my school that have cancer so when I go to cancer camp it shows me that there are so many kids that are having to go through the same thing and I feel like I'm not so alone anymore. Every single one of the people all have something in common and we all look up to each other. All of these experiences are so great and meeting all of these amazing people that lift my spirits really make me stronger and keep me going. Cancer has taught me the life lesson that I think everyone should learn and that is to live life to it's fullest. It has changed my outlook on life completely, made me stronger and showed me how to handle some of the normal struggles every kid goes through.