Please Don't Go by Mary Jo Valley

I’m a preteen and I love my mother. My story is for every daughter who loves her mother.

I didn’t really know anything about breast cancer until Mom got it. I thought that everybody died from it. But my mom didn’t die, although there were times when I thought I would. When Mom was in the hospital for tests and the mastectomy, things weren’t the same at home without her, even though Dad tried. When Mom went through the chemotherapy, she was sometimes so sick I was sure she was dying until I got to understand what was happening to her body. For a while, we changed roles, and I took care of her.

I was scared, and lonely, and afraid to ask questions. But, Mom understood that I desperately needed information, and she talked to me honestly and gently. I love her for that. She even showed me her scar.

So now things are pretty much back to normal, but now I understand about breast cancer. So should every girl around my age.

PLEASE DON’T GO is about me and Mom and breast cancer.

Mary Jo Valley is a breast cancer survivor.