Dreams Do Come True

Question:

You probably don’t remember me but I wrote to you about 5 years ago when my crohns disease was flaring badly and you where ever so kind to me and wrote back to me so first of all I’d like to say thank you for that! Your letters where a real treasure to me when I was in a bad place. I remember writing how I was sad and worried that my illness would prevent me from doing all the things I wanted to do.

Well I got my miracle ‘cure’ shortly after my emails to you. I now am a normal, healthy person 95% of the time on the basis that I go into hospital and have an infusion of drugs every 6 weeks. As for worrying about not being able to do the normal things a teenager would do – I like to think that I do all that and then some! I am writing this email from my dorm room and am currently studying for a degree in law, I’ve been in a relationship for 3 years and engaged for 4 months and I’m a member of the equestrian club at the Uni. I am also saving to hopefully go travelling next year. Dreams do come true! 🙂

The new Alice book came to me on Tuesday – which happened to be my 20th birthday and I think it may be one of the best presents I’ve ever had. I finished it today and I’m so happy with how Alice turned out! Although it is quite strange as usually when I’m reading through the books Alice and I are of similar age and with this one she has sped on decades ahead. Some of the stuff I’m still trying to sink in – Lester – who fainted when Alice had her ears pierced now has triplets?! and Alice is a mum of two?! A grandmother at that! Crazy.

I think the Alice books have had more of an impact on me that I had initially thought – it was only reading the last book that I realized it was because of the Alice books that when I go to hospital I think about how maternity wards are the only happy wards on the hospital, and I think that when I got engaged and the ring got stuck I remembered how if you can get it in (or on, as the case may be) then you can get it off. When it came to looking at University’s last year I thought about Alice turning up to the wrong campus.

I know that they are fictional characters but I found myself wondering earlier – what happened to Molly? Or Amy Sheldon?

Phyllis replied:
 
I hope you don’t mind that I published your very personal letter (you didn’t ask me not to), though I omitted your name and where you live.  But I think you will be an inspiration to people suffering from a major or chronic illness, who worry that they may never live a normal life.  I’m so happy to hear that you’ve adapted to whatever it takes to keep you active, and that you have so many good things going for you.  Yes, I do remember your letter, and I’m delighted that you took the time to tell me about your life.  As for Molly?  Complete remission of her leukemia.  Amy Sheldon?  Doing well…stayed on the newspaper staff after Alice graduated, and later got a job she enjoys in the mail room of a large corporation.  Best of luck to you!