It was a warm summer morning, the sun was shining. Everything seemed to be playing out that day, just like it was supposed to do. My sister, brother, and i were all getting ready for school. I went downstairs to brush my teeth and i realized my right half of my face wasn't as ‘skinny’ as my left half. And it all fell down to right under my chin. Under my left half of my chin, there was almost a lump that i hadn't really noticed before. I had realized it began to get harder to swallow, and breathe almost. But i had never really thought about it until i saw that lump. I opened the door and my sister was standing there. She realized i had the worried look on my face, and i pointed out why.

That morning, my mom came downstairs and looked at me. She tried pushing on it, but it was very tender. I wasn't sure what was going on, or what had happened to me. The only thought that went through my head is, Am i going to die? I told my mom that the last few weeks it has been a struggle to swallow. But i had thought it was the weather change. Nothing to serious. My mom took me to the doctor that morning. I got into the office after sitting there for what seemed to be like hours. My doctor had told me that i needed to go to a specialist, and that he thinks the thing in my neck is a cist.

My doctor suggested someone who he thought was the best. I remember his name as clear as day. His name was Dr. Guivarie. I only remembered his name because him and the doctor off of Despicable me have the same name. He also gave very strong hand shakes. He wasn't very considerate about my pain, he pushed and pried on my neck. And inside my mouth, to see how big it was. That day, he scheduled me for sugary. We sat down in this very tiny office, and talked about my options. We had the date scheduled for May 13. RIght before school ended.

Throughout the next couple of weeks, i began to get more and more worried about what was going to happen. I was worried, would this thing kill me? When i go under for surgery, will i ever come awake? All these awful things went through my head. I told my friends i wasn't going to be there for a week or so after. We would get out of school on May 23rd. I was determined to be there for what they called field day, it was pretty much a free day to walk around with friends. I wouldn't be able to participate in anything, because i would still want to be there. Just to hang out with friends on the last day of school.

As the days went by, i had gotten more and more nervous as the day for closer. When the day came, i wasnt aloud to eat or drink anything the day of. We drove to the hospital, and i remember it smelling like a rubber glove. It was gross. I remember looking down and seeing my hands shaking. It was very early in the morning and i was hungry, and tired. I just wanted to get it over with. I was so nervous as it is.

We got into this small room, there was so many nurses that came in and out of the room. Which made it ten times worse. They told me i was going to fall asleep in 5,3,3,2 and i don't remember anything else. The next thing i knew i was this room with blue walls, and grey curtains. I tried to get my moms attention, but it hurt way too bad to talk. My mom stood up and asked how i was doing. It hurt so much to talk, so i just put a thumbs up.

My mom had the same worried look on her face, but i knew it was just because i had tube coming out of my neck. It was only so it did not get infected. The next thing i knew i saw my brother and sister walk in. They both began to cry, seeing me in the state i was, it worried them. When i saw them cry, i began it cry. I stumbled on my words, because it hurt. I told them i was alright, and for them not to worry. Dr. Guivarie then came in and asked how i was doing. He had asked me to hold up my fingers and rank my pain. I remember holding up a 5, only because it hurt to talk.

There was a tube coming out of my neck, it had rubbed the skin from off the bottom of my tongue. For only a week or so after, i had struggled to eat and talk. I could only open my mouth so wide. As soon as i got back home, i craved chicken wings. They had sounded so good. But i was stuck on soft foods, like jello, and yogurt. Eight days after my surgery, the first thing i had to eat was a piece of beef jerky. I cut it down very small. But it was the best thing i had tasted in a long time.  

On the 9th day after my surgery, i was determined to go to school. It was the second to last day of school. All my friends crowded me with questions. I still had tape across it, so it would keep it closed. I told them that they surgery went very good, and that i missed them. That day, all my friends gave me cards, and my friend payton even made a binder, she put in all the things she loved about me. It felt good to have a great group of friends like that.

The next day, all we did was walk around and talk, i hung out with all my friends, even if we weren't all hanging out at the same time. I was happy that everything went well, and that i was able to get back for the last day of school. I remember feeling this great feeling, it felt like there was a big gust of wind, but it wasn't the kind that would knock you over. It was a relief. I was cist free, and life was great.