Leukemia

In the first unit of the Disease course, which is called Body, the class went over how diseases affect the body, and for the math portion we went over the how units are measured. For the action project, the class was assigned to research a disease and interview someone we know that has been affected by that disease. I chose to research leukemia because it has affected someone very close to me, but I still didn't know much about this type of cancer. It was interesting to learn new things about what was going on in this persons' body, but also seeing how it also affected them as a person . Although the research was challenging, it was also cool to learn new things about this disease. The life size drawing showing which parts of the body are affected was also fun, and crazy to see how much some diseases can spread. Thanks to this unit and project, I now have a better understanding on how body systems work and how they can die out when hit with a disease.


Izzy is 25 year old healthy, college student, but 6 years ago that wasn’t the case. Christmas eve 2009 was the day she was diagnosed with Leukemia. As she was getting ready to go to bed the night before the last day of work, she felt a bit under the weather, with a cold, headache and feeling a little nauseous. She really didn’t think much of it and took some medicine, hoping she would feel better by morning. The next day on her way to work, walking up the train steps was a huge problem for her. She was out of breath by the time she reached the street, along with having some chest pain. The chest pain scared her because her father had experienced a heart attack the year before, resulting to a open heart surgery. Along with still feeling nauseous and being out of breath for awhile, she decided to finally go to the emergency room. Although the doctors had done tests, they found nothing. It wasn’t until one doctor noticed how pale she was that he decided to take a blood test just in case. The results changed everything. It turns out she has Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The cancer develops in the bone marrow, then makes its way to the blood, and then the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. It’s also known as the cancer of white blood cells. The cells of people who have this type of cancer cells do not work properly and are unable to accomplish what normal cells can do, like fighting off an infection. Leukemia also isn't just one disease. There are four. Those are called acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).  The blood cells of people with these 4 types cause the Lymphatic system to not function correctly, along with the Immune system, as the body is weak to fight off infections.

Treatment started right away with chemotherapy, something she recalls being really tough. “I was constantly throwing up and fainting. I also had loss of appetite which was so hard especially when I knew I had to eat to keep my strength up, but being nauseous all the time didn't help either.” Along with that many risks and side effects include, anemia, fatigue, higher risk of catching an infection and sensitive to bleeding.

Although anyone anywhere is at risk of being diagnosed with Leukemia, it is more common to be found in developed countries, and race also plays a big part. It is found that Hispanics, especially under the age of 20 are at a higher risk of Leukemia. It is also the most common cancer to affect children. Leukemia is not transmittable since it’s a type of cancer. Research has been done to figure out what causes leukemia, but the closest answers researchers can get is that it links to environmental problems dealing with radiation along to exposure to different types of chemicals, your lifestyle which includes diet, and certain types of infections.


Cancer doesn't just affect the body of the person that it hits, but also the person as a person. I caught on to one thing that I think proves that. “Another symptom that wasn't the worst but hard on me was losing my hair. I knew it was going to happen but I'll never forget the feeling I felt when the first chucks of my hair fell out. I cried! I laughed about it later on that night but being bald for months made me feel self conscious. I embraced it and realized that bald was beautiful.” I hope you understand more of what Leukemia does to your body by looking at my poster.

RD. Photography. Body with Leukemia. 2015

What is soul?

In unit 1 of the Forbidden Books course, which is called Politics, the class went over the past civilizations of ancient Greece, studied books that were once banned, and also went over many vocabulary words that were unfamiliar, but important when discussing all those topics. We also learned about Socrates, a Greek philosopher, who is also known as being the founder of western philosophy. Although he never wrote down any of his principles or ideas, we were still able to understand them through the writing of his student Plato. Socrates and his ideas were considered "dangerous", and therefore led to his death, because he was no longer able to share or practice his own principles. There is also a method named after him named the Socratic Method. It's a discussion between two people filled with questions that require deep, critical thinking. That also plays a big role on why many people were not a fan of Socrates. They wouldn't enjoy being asked questions, because sometimes they wouldn't have all the answers. For this action project, the class was assigned to create a dialogue following the Socratic Method, while discussing a theme or question. I decided to to discuss the question "What is Soul"? The human soul has always interested me, and leaves me with some deep questions that I'm still trying to find answers to, so I thought it would be interesting to follow the Socratic Method, while going over this question. Although interesting, it was still challenging trying to come up with some deep critical questions, but as I was getting more into it, the questions came more naturally. Thanks to this unit and project, I now know why some writers’ work can be considered "dangerous" and how to involve some deep thinking in discussions. I hope you enjoy the discussion below!

P- Hey! What are you doing?

V- Nothing much. Just reading Chicken Noodle Soup for the soul.

P- For the soul? Do you even know what a soul is?

V- Everyone knows that it’s something inside you, that makes you unique from everybody else, and when your body finally dies and shuts down, it wanders.

P-Yes, but the word “soul” in Hebrew literally means “a creature that breathes”, and in Greek it means an “entire being”, it’s not something inside you, it is you! So it would be impossible for your soul to wander, right?

V- Well If you put it that way, no it wouldn't, but I’m sure it has to go somewhere, when face to face with death.

P- Not necessarily. Even though I have never experienced a near death event, or have been in a comatose state, I find it hard to believe that some people claim to have seen their bodies, while watching as their soul. Because if their soul were to really escape, that means there is absolutely nothing left of them, which makes them dead. They might still be able to hear and even feel things as their brain is still alive though. So tell me, would it really be possible for your soul to wander once the body is dead?

V- Well no. And if you were to look at the definition of the word soul it has the word “living” or “breathes”.


P- Exactly! Have you noticed the term “brain dead”?

V- Yes I have, but I have always wondered why it’s called that.


P- Wouldn't it just be better to pronounce someone officially dead, rather than brain dead, since the mind is what guides us? Well that comes to show that there’s something else in our body that’s keeping us alive. The erasure of the mind might stop us from feeling and remembering, but your heart is still pumping, which means you’re still living. It isn't until the body completely shuts down, that the soul dies.


V- It’s nice to know that we are more than just the outcome of brain neurons working together.

P- Of course we are. Although the mind can be controlling at times, sometimes we have to separate ourselves from it, and follow other major parts of the soul.

V- What would those be though?

P- Your heart, body, actions, emotions, passions, breath and way of thinking. Those all make up the human soul.

V- So I AM a soul, without my body, there wouldn't be a soul.