Quinn Rooney
My name is Quinn Rooney, I am sixteen years old and I was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago when I was fourteen. I have glioma, which is a cancer of the brain, there’s a tumor on my brain stem. Since I was diagnosed I’ve been getting chemotherapy every other Tuesday at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital. The medicine makes you want to throw up and you lose your hair. Getting chemotherapy isn’t a pleasant experience although being in the clinic with all the friendly faces makes it bearable. I’ll probably be undergoing treatment until the end of my senior year, another 18 months.
When I come to get chemotherapy at the clinic I really like doing the art activities they have. It’s actually a lot of fun because I usually don’t do any art-like thing, like creating visual art. Right now I’m working with Sarah Jane on this cool book thing. I’m not exactly sure what to call it, but it’s a lot of fun. I also like to play the games they have. The other day I found a new Star Wars game; I’m a big Star Wars fan. It is great because the way the systems are set up you can actually compete against someone 15 feet away who is also receiving treatment. Many of the games and arts and crafts in the clinic are provided by The Tommy Fund. The Tommy Fund is important to us as patients; they want to make sure we still feel like kids when we are here.
Even though I’m receiving treatment I still got to play Max in a production of The Sound of Music. I really like singing and entertaining people. I do Community Theatre, musicals at my school, and also shows at the local all-girl’s school when they need male actors. I think my favorite show I’ve been in was “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” or “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
At times it’s been hard. Every time I find out I’m losing my hair again it’s kind of hard. But I’ve gotten a lot of support from everyone in the clinic, friends and my school. Everyone’s like “Oh my god, you’ve got a brain tumor.” I mean, it’s bad, but it could be a lot worse. I think that everyone here at the clinic helps and supports all the kids who are getting treatment. My school’s also been really accommodating since I’m out one day every other week. I had a ton of family and friends come out for this year for the Tommy Fund’s Family Day. It was cool - there were over 100 people on our team, Rooney’s Runners. It was kind of funny they were all wearing shirts with my face on them. I also got to run with them and I finished with a time of 33.48. It was a huge accomplishment and heartwarming to have all those people there cheering for me, friends, family and The Tommy Fund.
