Monitors are beeping everywhere, but I’m not the patient anymore. Twelve years through medical school did a number on me. My name is Fran, and this is my story. I was five when I was diagnosed with skin cancer, all those days by the pool might have been a bad idea. I went through many trials of chemotherapy before my doctor cleared me. After ten years of fighting, I finally won the battle. College was difficult but I pushed through. My inspiration to follow through was my previous doctor, Dr. Montgomery. She had a soft spot for children, I hoped she remembered me. If she didn’t I would t hold it over her.

Today was my first day and I was an intern at Mitchell Hospital. I was finishing paperwork on a patient when I heard a scream behind me. “Francesca Santiago? Is that really you? I remember when you were a patient here many years ago!” “Dr. Montgomery, it’s so wonderful to see you again. I believe I get to train under you, this should be fun.” “Ah yes, you are one of my new ones aren’t you?” I finished the patient’s paperwork and continued to walk with my new teacher.

She gave me a tour of the facility, I knew most of it from living here for years under chemo. No, today she went further into the hospital, the places I never got to go as a child. I met some of the other doctors, and learned where the materials were. When we were finished, she took me to the locker room. “This is where you will change for work, you will also get to meet your new coworkers.” “Okay, sure. I’m excited to meet everyone. My mother would have been so proud of me.” “She would have been, I heard what happened. I’m sorry for your loss.” “It’s okay, really, it happened so many years ago.” She looked at me frankly and walked away.

I turned in to check out the locker room. I see many younger adults like I am. I walked to where my locker was, it was in the middle of the crowd. “Hey, I’m Fran. It’s nice to meet you guys.” “Aren’t you the girl who had cancer? How could you even afford college with that hospital bill?” A young girl said. “I’m Ericka, sorry for the questions, I’m always so forward.” “I get it, my mom paid for everything before she got into her accident. She already had the college fund saved up for me. I know kids aren’t that lucky.”

Ericka and I became the best of friends, it didn’t take long. We had so many things in common, she grew up the same way I did. We both came from a rich family, but money wasn’t everything. Most of it got saved for rainy days, or went to charity. It felt good to relate to someone new, also to have a friend in a big place. Sometimes I still got scared, but I never faltered. I was afraid to mess up, I could feel my mother watching down on me. Being an intern was a big responsibility, I had to watch my health along with others.