Hello, I'm Kai, a 19 year old biomedical science student from South London. Roughly eight years ago, I started to get really painful headaches which would never go away and restricted me from moving my head.
It felt like I was paralysed from the neck up. Worse of all, it stopped me from playing football in the playground with my best friends. After a short while, I was sent to the hospital where they diagnosed me with a brain tumour: a Pineal Germinoma. My treatment plan was to go through two weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy.
The chemotherapy meant I was incredibly fatigued and I felt super isolated. I lost my hair with the radiotherapy, which made me a bit insecure and the treatment has impacted my memory.
The diagnosis changed my life. I became a lot less social around people and I went through a phase of imagining what the implications would be if it came back. The main thing going through my mind after treatment was the increased susceptibility/risk I have to other diseases mainly due to chemotherapy and the possibility of the cancer returning.
Teens Unite has enormously supported me through events like Discover You and the Activity Stay. They help turn negative thoughts into a positive, but most importantly they bring teens together and support us as a unit.
Interacting with other teens who have or had reminds me that I'm not alone in such a battle. With Teens Unite, nobody gets left behind or forgotten.
I needed help and that's where Teens Unite came in. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and the reason I met Teens Unite was to save my life.
With Teens Unite, I finally realised that I could climb out of this massive hole that I had been digging because I wasn't alone anymore.
If it wasn't for Teens Unite, I wouldn't be where I am now. They have been really supportive and given me the strength to push myself and not give up.
Volunteering with Teens Unite has changed my personality and outlook on life. When I hear all the amazing things the teens say about Teens Unite, I can tell they mean every word.
Teens Unite isn't just a charity to me, it was the beginning of restarting my life.
When Elliot started receiving the support of Teens Unite, I could see a change in him straightaway. His outlook on life was becoming positive again and I gained strength from seeing my little boy accepting what had happened and starting to move forward.
I needed help and that's where Teens Unite came in. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and the reason I met Teens Unite was to save my life.
With Teens Unite, I finally realised that I could climb out of this massive hole that I had been digging because I wasn't alone anymore.
If it wasn't for Teens Unite, I wouldn't be where I am now. They have been really supportive and given me the strength to push myself and not give up.
Volunteering with Teens Unite has changed my personality and outlook on life. When I hear all the amazing things the teens say about Teens Unite, I can tell they mean every word.
Teens Unite isn't just a charity to me, it was the beginning of restarting my life.
When Elliot started receiving the support of Teens Unite, I could see a change in him straightaway. His outlook on life was becoming positive again and I gained strength from seeing my little boy accepting what had happened and starting to move forward.
