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.
Bu hikaye New Zealand Woman's Weekly dergisinin August 1, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye New Zealand Woman's Weekly dergisinin August 1, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
The perfect GETAWAY
From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes
Message in a BOTTLE
Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills
Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE
Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills