My Final Wish

My name is Tilahun. For those of you that do not know me or my story I am originally from Ethiopia. I currently have stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma. Growing up in Ethiopia, I was homeless starting at the age of 8. I had to live with other people and work by watching their children or cleaning the their house. In return, I was allowed to sleep on their kitchen floor.

After doing this until I was 11, I had to go to the Mother Theresa camp because I was getting sick. This is where I was first diagnosed with cancer. During my battle I lost my leg but not my will to fight this disease. I continued my battle against cancer in Ethiopia until I had to come to America through a doctors program so I could get better treatment.

When I left Ethiopia and came to America, I made my dad, Belete, a promise; a promise that I would one day get him a house in Ethiopia where he still lives. I did not want my father or my brothers to have to be homeless and live like I did when I was growing up. I have now been in America for 6 years, fighting cancer. Despite battling cancer, I have always held onto the hope that when I beat cancer, I would be able to work and provide the house that I promised. This motivated me to keep fighting each and every day. I am now at a point in my battle with cancer where I do not think I am going to be able to make this promise to him a reality. My cancer has spread very rapidly along my spine and is also pressing against the nerves in my leg, making it impossible to walk or be touched without pain.

I have stopped taking medication or doing radiation because the doctors have nothing left that can help me. So, I am preparing to say good-bye to this world, but am always hoping for a miracle. I am now asking everyone to help me with my last wish, which is to provide shelter for my dad. My wish is to help provide him with his own house.

I don’t want to leave this Earth without fulfilling my promise to him. I need help in order to make this happen. My father has always worked extremely hard to provide for his family. He will do anything to make sure that his family has food and is taken care of. From cutting rocks, butchering animals, or making clothes, he would do anything to take care of us. Despite working, it is still difficult to live a normal life, or even to eat three meals a day. Right now, my family in Ethiopia is extremely poor. They are living in a makeshift shelter, where there is no protection from the weather. Water will come into where they live, and it is not somewhere that any human should have to live. Because of this my brothers cannot go to school.

My dad always tried to take care of me when I was in Ethiopia and now it is my turn to take care of him. I am now in a place where anything can happen to me because of my medical condition, so I am asking everyone to be gracious and to accomplish my desire of getting a house for my father. Please help me to feel fulfilled and make me the happiest person in the world. I want to keep my promise to my dad.

Please help me leave something behind for my family so I can rest knowing they are supported.