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Bonnie is full of determination
Eighteen year old Bonnie Wood has everything to live for. The young, vibrant teenager recently celebrated her birthday with family and friends after battling cancer for nearly four years.
“I was just 14 years old when I was at the dentist for a routine check-up when it all started going wrong,” says Bonnie.
The dentist noticed a lump on the roof of her mouth and referred Bonnie to an ear, nose and throat specialist. After having the cyst removed four times, she was finally diagnosed with cancer of the palate in July 2004.
Although her family suspected it was a form of cancer, Bonnie was advised that the type of cancer she had was more common in older people who had smoked and drank alcohol on a regular basis.
Bonnie, accompanied by her mother Lynette, spent time in Auckland on a regular basis to undergo treatment. They travelled down every six weeks and stayed in Auckland for two to three weeks at a time.
Lynette's employer allowed her to take the time off work and without an income-related rent, she says she's not sure how they would have survived financially.
Both Bonnie and Lynette also admit that they wouldn't have coped as well without the fantastic support from Lisha Haywood, Bonnie's cancer coordinator.
Now in remission, Bonnie still gets migraines and chronic fatigue from the treatment she has had. However, she is training to become a receptionist and is determined to move on with her life. “It's a case of ?one day at a time' and the future looks bright,” smiles Bonnie.
