Brittany Kremers often wishes she could’ve picked which cancer she got. While the young Christchurch woman saw others battling “hidden” illnesses, she hasn’t been able to conceal hers, and has spent most of her life dealing with stares and rude comments from strangers.
Diagnosed with a devastating facial tumour – stage four alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma – aged eight, Brittany had her jaw and skull base removed, along with the tumour, in a 13hour operation that left her disfigured and unable to see or hear on her right side.
It began a tortuous process of restorative surgeries that lasted years and involved hundreds of hospital admissions. She would tell her parents, Dawn, 57, and Marcel, 55, “I wish I had got leukemia instead, so I wouldn’t have a constant external reminder every time I looked in the mirror.”
Explains Brittany, who turns 26 next month, “My best friend had cancer in his bladder and the only thing that affects him now is he needs to use the bathroom quite often. Whereas, I can’t breathe normally, I can’t eat normally. I’m stuck sounding different and have a crooked smile because of my nerves that have been buggered over the years. I’m stuck with an eyelid that doesn’t close and makes my eye so irritable. I’m stuck looking this way and it gets me really down.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 1, 2022-Ausgabe von New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 1, 2022-Ausgabe von New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Wax lyrical SHINE BRIGHT
We're not blowing smoke! These easy projects will light up your rooms in a jiffy
Mum's hero team GIVING GIGI A FLYING CHANCE
Twice her daughter has needed life-saving treatment
Call the midwife AROHA'S SPECIAL DELIVERIES
The maternity carer wants more pregnant mums to have the traditional Māori birth experienc
Winning his Queen back FRED & MARY'S TOUR OF LOVE
There's a lot riding on the royal couple's anniversary cruise
The winner TAKES IT ALL!
Five decades on from Abba's Arrival, we're still saying Thank You For the Music
The show must go on! TAYLA'S LIVING HER DREAM
From opera to operations, the young Kiwi performer is unstoppable
From Russia with love 'ADVENTURE'S IN MY BLOOD'
Victoria's glad she took the leap of faith, even though it was a desperate act
Marata's supporting role 'NIKKI'S THE REAL WARRIOR'
The league star pays tribute to his soulmate who lives with a painful condition
Stronger than ever WILLS & KATE'S ENDURING LOVE
Through all life's challenges, the royal soulmates are there for each other
Four kids and a party JESSE'S BRINGING THE FUN!
The TV host is dancing to his own beat when it comes to fatherhood and fame