Excerpts from the journal of R.J. Voigt

December 19, 2004

R.J. Voigt dressed up to go to church and pray shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer.

12/16/2001

Dear Journal,

I am 10 years old, and in the 5th grade. My name is Ronald Joseph Frank Voigt. I have had cancer for more than a year. This may well be two years. I'm determined to keep a dairy. Right now to January, I will be getting antibiotics. I remember how to do it, but my Mom does it....

The nurse is going to come tomorrow to do my port. Sometimes, all this makes me mad, or sad, or all the others, or all of them. Riting to you makes all my tense go away. Christmas is coming up, and I can't wait. On our three-foot tree, it has a big angel on the top, lots of angels, santas and reindeers.

Well, good-bye. See you tomorrow night.

Dear Journal,

Hello, I am back. I don't care about the date anymore.

Grandmom says Christmas is this tuesday. I will start writing the date again since I know it's on the 25th, I think. Well, I'll draw you a picture this time since it's been a week.

Bye, see you tomorrow night.

Feb. 12, 2002

Dear Journal,

I am so sorry I haven't wrote in you for so long. I care about the date now. Since I haven't wrote in you for awhile, it will take awhile to catch up...

Well, now I have to take this oral chemo liquid with apple juice. It tastes nasty. Well, I found out who I'm in love with. My old friend Holly. Oh yeah, I have to take the chemo for the rest of my life, unless they find a cure for it. I take it for three weeks, then I have one week off. The first "off" day is this Wensday.

Well, Goodbye. See you tomorrow night.

Dear Journal,

Hi, I am back. I am writing this at 6:00. My neck and left side of my jaw hurt because I lyed down and slept all day. Guess what? Mom is putting my new computer in my room. It has games and even a paddle for the games. It has speakers and even a silver mouse.

The staff members of the RMH (Ronald McDonald House) gave it to me. Well, T-Rex (pet cockatiel) is in my room.

Guess what? Today I am off the oral chemo for a week. Tuesday is my last day of freedom. Then I have to take it for 3 weeks. How I would describe the taste of it. Yuck nasty yuck nasty yuck nasty yuck nasty yuck nasty. Well, Good-bye. See you later.

Dear Journal,

Guess what? This is my 12th time writing in this book. I have a headache now. I took medicine for it. I also took my antibiotics...I have to drink all the time. I also koof a lot. I hate being sick. I just hate it...