I wasn't planning on making a new entry today, but something happened that I think needs to be remembered. My day was spent eating yummy food, visiting with friends, and wig shopping. All great things, but I will forever remember this day, March 27, 2012, as The Day of The Fallen Warriors (aka the day my hair started falling out, but the other version sounds cooler) I had noticed a few more strands were falling out here and there over the past day or two, but today when I washed my hair chunks of it came out in my fingers. At first I was scared, I have to admit I forgot I had chemo and I thought my hair was falling out for no reason. That can be traumatic to a teenage girl! Once I got over the initial shock, I was sort of sad, people would finally be able to tell that I have cancer. But then I realized, losing my hair is a good thing. It means that my chemo is working! Plus, at this point my hair is just something that gets in the way. So if everyone could just take a moment of silence to think about those warriors that fell today. JUST KIDDING! But never forget to thank and remember the actual soldiers of America! They really do deserve to be recognized.

Cancer is a serious disease and it can make you feel pretty crappy. When you have no energy to do anything and nothing to do all day, it can be really easy to concentrate on the negatives of your life, and it's not easy to get better when you're depressed. Lucky for me, I'm an optimist! I know that God has given me this challenge for a reason, one that not everyone understands, but I do. With the help of God,  I'm going to focus on the positives of my life (which are a lot!!!). So here they are, THE PERKS OF CANCER.
I get free Hichew
My daddy buys me stuff (can you say new iPad?)
I met awesome people in the hospital. Shout out to SarahBen
I was number one in my graduating class (of one)
No homework!
People are more willing to do my bidding (insert evil laugh here)
I get to wear PJs all day without the judgment from others
My Grandmom cleans my room for me
I get to have two completely different hairstyles at one time (a shaved head and whatever hairstyle I choose for my wig)
I get tons of flowers. My house looks like a garden that I didn't have to put any work whatsoever in to
I get to eat whatever I want (my doctor recommended icecream for breakfast)
Apparently cancer makes you popular. Tons of people want to be around me now. Or maybe it makes you pretty. I'm not sure yet
I get to lose weight without dieting
I have tons more free time (I'm about to hit up the pool)
I'm eligible for more scholarships!
I get an all expenses paid trip from the Make A Wish Foundation (I'm going to ITALY)


But in all seriousness, the biggest perk is being able to see how many people love you and how much everyone really cares about you. I have been blessed with so many people who are rooting for me and praying for me. Thanks to everyone for all your support. You all give me strength and are constant reminders of why my life is awesome!

One of the many uplifting cards I have recieved

My class loves me! Thanks English 4!

Just a small portion of the beautiful garden given to me

Awesome gift from Panther Pride

For those of you that do not know me very well, Grim Lizzie Papa is my rapper name. I consider myself a bit of a gangster, I even have a tattoo to prove it. I wanted a cool name for my blog so what better name to use than my name?! 

Anyways, this past year I have been sick a lot and it's been a long process to finally come to a diagnosis. Since my diagnosis, everything has been happening at a speed that I can't comprehend, so I started this blog to get a sense of control back in my life. This way, I can get my story out my way and details are not lost or added like in a game of Telephone (I really don't want to end up a leper with one eye and a funky rash that wont go away). So this is my life! A little over a month ago I had an MRI and they found a large mass in my liver that takes up the whole right lobe. When I visited the Children's Hospital, I was diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma, which is a rare liver cancer. Only about 25 people in the US are diagnosed with it each year. Because my cancer has spread to a spot by my heart and another in my esophagus, it is classified as stage four (there are four stages in cancer, stage one being the best). But don't worry! My doctors are the best and are on top of my treatment. They have taken every precaution to make sure that my cancer did not spread anywhere else. I even had something radioactive injected so that they could see my bones better on certain tests. Unfortunately, that didn't give me super powers. I'm still waiting for my spidey senses to kick in. I recently finished my first round of chemo and in April I go back for round two. If my cancer is reacting the way it should, then in the summer I'll have one big surgery to remove all my tumors and I will return to a semi-normal life (hopefully filled with fighting crime with my super powers).

Props to Nisha George for convincing me to get a rapper name and Katelynn McWilliams for inspiring me to make a blog!

Keep following for more posts about my everyday life and if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask. I really don't have anything better to do!