05: Khatsernov

Khatsernov, Right Optic Pathway Glioma

What do you want people to know about your Cancer experience?

Mainly, that it’s never defined me. When you have a disease like that, whatever case, however severe it’s really about not letting it define, but letting it strengthen you. Thats how you overcome the mental part of it.

NO medicine is more terrifying than the loneliness. No one understood what I was going through but I didn’t understand why I had to be different.

You shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help and for support. It’s really about finding those people that help you accept the situation. Sunrise Day Camp and Social Workers at the hospital helped me. Those are the people that inspire me every day.

People need to realize that every single person is affected by Cancer whether they have it or not. It’s a terrible disease.

What was the hardest part of the experience for you?

Loneliness. I was in second & third grade and didn’t fully understand it then - knowing that I was different.

I remember the first day of fifth grade, I had lost my hair that summer. One of the worst days ever having to go to school, having people who you though were your friends bewildered and staring at your bald head.

I don’t really blame them, they were in fifth grade.

How has the experience changed your life and who you are as a person?

First and foremost, I’m much more grateful.

That wasn’t always the case because I didn’t necessarily understand it when I was in elementary school.

I started to understand how lucky I was compared to what other kids had to go through. “Grateful” definitely describes it the most.

Sunrise Day Camp & Camp Adventure — because it provided that comfort, family and love.  That’s what Sunrise is, it’s family love and magic — becoming a counselor and it was hard to sum up how much camp had done for me and then to have my life changed by these kids.

It’s the greatest job in the world.

Almost every day I would just stop what I was doing and step back and look at the whole camp, and hear the laughter and see the smiles and just feel the magic. Feelings are something incredible.

I’m always considering Pediatric Oncology in the back of my mind. Thinking about starting a little company and starting a charity that brings education to hospitals and terminally ill children.

If someone was newly diagnosed, what advice would you give them?

Don’t focus on the negative. Obviously there are going to be a lot of difficult times. It’s a  journey and that’s really how life is. 

Sometimes you may wish, “Why only me?” but with the people and the support, it’s really all you need to get through it. 

Overcoming the mental aspect — that’s the most important & powerful part.