Nine Lives

In Week 10 we launched Nine Lives, a collection of our Year 9 memoir writing that was developed with the guidance of local authors, Nova Weetman and Paul Connolly. We are so proud of the students' work and loved seeing their excitement as they read their published work as well as the writing of their friends and peers.

We’ve included Anita’s beautiful piece here for all to read, as unfortunately it wasn’t included in the first edition. Thank you, Anita.

Terrible Tumor - Nine Lives

At birth Neurofibromatosis, a ghastly, genetic condition that quietly shadowed my life. Neurofibromatosis is a condition that causes tumours to grow anywhere around the nervous system. By the age of nine, it was growing rapidly, plunging me into a world of fear and uncertainty.

Regular doctor visits became a heavy weight that I constantly carried. The word surgery loomed ominously sending chills down my spine. There was no escape…

Days before the surgery were a blur of anxiety and fears. Sleepless nights full of dread.

The morning of the surgery was here, no escaping! The 3 hour surgery was moments away. The strong, familiar stench of sanitary products filled the air and stung my nose. The cold air caused chills to run down my neck. The loud BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! A CONSTANT RINGING IN MY EARS. I remember being wheeled into a small, confined operating room. a sea of masked faces and shiny, gleaming instruments fuelled my nerves. I felt a wave of panic claw at my chest as the anesthesia took hold, dragging me into a world of unconsciousness

When I awoke, the world was a blur, a tight band aid covered the top of my head like a headband. I felt extremely drowsy and weak.

I heard a soft voice calling my name "Anita, Anita, Anita." The voice belongs to my dad. I expected to see my dad but instead I was greeted by an elderly lady with long, wavy grey hair, wearing a flowy, silky, white gown and she was smiling at me. No one else saw her except me so I presume she might've been a guardian angel.

Days turned into weeks and I experienced a journey of acceptance as my scars began to heal. I saw the world differently now, its colours slightly brighter and I felt a spark of confidence. While I was still vision impaired there were more glimmers of hope and resilience. With every passing day I felt stronger and more confident.

Anita Prudkov - Year 9