Hi. My name is Sam, and I have cancer. Mommy says I’m going to beat it, but I don't think so. I made a bucket list of things I want to do before I die, starting with a cruise around the world. Hodgkin Lymphoma is the type of cancer momma says I have. She also says that daddy had the same thing as me, and that he’s flying in the sky looking over me. He’s my guardian angel.
    “Sam, why don’t you come downstairs and have some breakfast.” I heard momma yell. I got out of bed, and put on my slippers. Their SpongeBob, because I love SpongeBob. I walk downstairs to see a man in a suit sitting at the kitchen table. Next to my favorite bowl, which contained my favorite oatmeal. Cinnamon and brown sugar.       
    “Hey Sam, my name is Dr.Bob. I’m your new in-house nurse.” The man sort of scared me. He had a creepy grin, a lumpy nose, and a scar above his left eye.
    “Well what happened to Mrs. Nancy?” I asked. He took a moment to answer, and that made me curious.
    “Well Sam ya see, Mrs. Nancy took a trip to Heaven last night.” He turned away to wipe his eye.
    “Sam, Mrs. Nancy is flying high with daddy, watching over you and me.” Momma said, holding back tears, and nearly choking. I could see the tears, wanting to pour out, but momma being strong as always holding them back. She hates to cry in front of me, mostly because she wants me to be strong too. I learned a while ago that flying high basically mean passed away.
    “Hey, Dr. Bob has the same name as SpongeBob!” I said as I was trying to change the subject. I sat down to eat my oatmeal, and momma put a big glass of orange juice next to me.
    “Okay Sam, try not to scream when I tell you this. This afternoon you, Dr. Bob and I are going to get 3 tickets on the Nickelodeon cruise.” Momma said. I stopped what I was doing, dropped the spoon, and looked at momma. She had a wide grin from ear to ear.
    “Are you telling the truth momma, or is this a trap?” I asked, knowing my momma did this before. The last time she did this it ended up with me in a medical facility for 3 weeks. Momma nodded her head, and I ran to hug her. I gave her the biggest hug ever! Dr. Bob started to talk, and I zoned out, continuing to eat my breakfast.
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    I got out of the shower, and put on my best clothes. A SpongeBob short-sleeved shirt, and a pair of Hollister shorts. I looked at myself in my little mirror and thought, man all the girls are going to want some of this. I ran to my bedroom and put on some spider man socks, and a pair of Jordan’s. I may have cancer, but I still got to look fresh. I grabbed my snap-back, which had the word FRESH written on it.
    “Sam… it’s time to go,” I heard my mom say. “Dr. Bob and I will be waiting in the car.” I opened the top drawer of my dresser and grabbed my money I had saved up. $27.50 is the total amount of money I have saved up. I ran downstairs and opened the door.
    “Dakota! Come on boy, time to go.” I heard my husky’s paw’s pounding the hardwood floor as he was scrambling to get out the door. I ran to the car to let Dakota and I in. Finally, we pulled out and were on our way to get my dream tickets.   
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    We pulled into the Travel Center, and I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Hurry ma, they might sell out!” I said. I was so excited I ran to the front door. When I looked through the door, I seen that they were pretty empty. I could hear my ma and Mr. Bob’s footsteps on the wet cement. Ding. The door’s bell rang as I opened it, with force.
    “How may we help you?” The lady at the front desk asked. I decide to look around, and that's when I spotted a journal. It was baby blue, which happen to be my favorite color.
    “Ma, can I pretty please get this journal. I could use it to write down some things I do on the cruise.” I said, trying to be persuasive. She shook her head yes, and I ran it over to her. “Ma, can I buy your ticket?” I asked, pulling out my money.
    “And where did you get this money?” Ma asked. I didn't want to tell her about me selling cookies to my classmates.
    “I been saving it up.” I told momma. I looked at the clerk and said, “One ticket please.” He looked at momma for reinsurance. He finally handed me a ticket, and I handed it to momma. She was all smiles.
    “Thank you Sam. But later you are telling me how you got that money.” She said laughing. I nodded, and continued to search the store. I looked at a few postcards, some keychains, and a really cool Hawaiian bobble-head. “Come on Sam, time to go pack if you want to make it to the cruise on time.” Momma said, as we walked out towards the car. As I opened the door, I was greeted with licks from Dakota.
“Come on boy, let me get inside the car.” I said as I had to push my way through him. And it was at that very moment when I realized that Dakota couldn’t go with me. “Momma, can Dakota come too?” I asked, just double checking. She looked at Dr.Bob, and then at Dakota. I already had a gut wrench feeling that it was going to be a no, but it's better to ask.
“No bud, Dakota’s going to have to stay at a friend’s house for the time were gone.” I see Dakota’s head drop, and I knew he didn't like that. I layed my head on his body, and rode like that the rest of the ride home.
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    I finally finished packing my stuff for the cruise, and was about to take a nap. “Sam time to go, we have to drive an hour to the docks.” Momma yelled up the stairs. I unplugged my IPhone 6+ from the charger, and my IPod 5. I loaded up my chargers, Beats©, and my pillow. I grabbed my suitcase and headed down the stairs. I stopped by the kitchen, and grabbed my lunchbox. I packed a Blue Cherry Gatorade, 2 ham and cheese lunchables, and a bag of Doritos. “How’d I know I’d find you in the kitchen?” Momma said laughing.
“It's going to be a long ride, and I may get hungry.” I said, laughing with momma. Dr.Bob walked in, and we took that as a sign it was time to leave. On our way out the kitchen, I grabbed the container of Double Stuffed Oreos. I was definitely in a munchie mood. Momma lied, it was a really short ride to the docks from Lower Manhattan, and when we got there we had time to explore the ship. I begged ma to help me find the SpongeBob area. She finally agreed, and five minutes we ran into SpongeBob and Patrick. I screamed so loud that other guest probably reported me. I gave SpongeBob a huge hug, and Patrick a high-five. This was probably the best moment of my 9 year existences. Momma said we had to go to the cabin and get ready for dinner, but I really didn’t want to leave. What if I didn’t see SpongeBob the rest of the cruise. Momma told me I was going to see him again, and that persuaded me enough to go back. Well that and the smell of the Lobster. When we got to the cabin, I layed in the bed. It was super comfy and warm. They had a flat-screen T.V, with a PlayStation 3. I thought I was in heaven, until I seen they didn’t have Netflix©.
“Momma, do they bring the food to the room, or do we have to go get the food?” I asked, hoping they brought it to us.
“We have to go to the restaurant and order it, but I can bring yours back if you want me to.” She said. I could see she wanted me to go, and I kind of did want to see the restaurant.
“I’ll go with you ma. I hope SpongeBob eats here too, or what if it's the Krusty Krab?!” I was so excited. So many thoughts were running through my mind I couldn't think straight. Momma came out of the bathroom, and Dr.Bob came out of his room, and we were all ready to go. I see so many kids on the way to the restaurant, and so many fun things they had to do. Before we have to go home, I want to get totally slimed. Once we got to the restaurant, momma let me pick where we sat. I picked a booth right next to a T.V., in which SpongeBob was on.
“You and SpongeBob kid, I swear I think you have a obsession.” Momma said, laughing. Dr.Bob even cracked a smile. Maybe he isn’t so bad after all, maybe I just have to get to know him. The Waiter came and took our order. I got the Krabby Patty Deluxe, and momma and Dr.Bob both got the Pretty Patties. By the time the drinks got here, I was starving. I slurped down my Kelp Shake before the food even got there. It just tasted like a regular banana smoothie. Dinner finally arrive, but it sure was worth the wait.
“So, how’s your guys dinner?” I asked, trying to start a conversation. I looked at Dr.Bob. He had an unusual look on his face, like he was thinking.
“My dinner is excellent, the burger is perfectly cooked. Nice and juicy. How’s you Dr.Bob?” Momma asked him. He looked up and looked at me and momma.
“We’ll, it's cooked perfectly as well. And how’s your Sam?” He asked smiling.
    “Taste just like how I hoped it would. Is everything okay Dr.Bob? I asked. He looked up with an awkward smile.
    “Yea, I just…. my mother is in the hospital and I’m 100 miles away.” He shed a tear, and choked on his water. I felt bad for him, it would suck if the same thing happen to me. My momma just put her head down. She will never shed a tear. We all decided it was time for a good night's sleep.
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    Ding. Ding. Ding. The morning bells rang, which signaled that it was breakfast time. A loud voice came over the speaker, “Good morning sailors! Today’s breakfast is eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns. Today’s activities include the 50ft tall Fall of Legends at 11:00a.m till 2:00p.m, then there will be a dance party with the cast of I Carly from 2:30 till 4:00p.m on the party floor, and finally tonight will be the Quiz show where 10 lucky sailors will get the chance to win a brand new ps4, a air hockey table, and a sliming of a lifetime. Come on out and participate because you never know, it might be your last chance. Have a fun day!” The guy finally stopped talking. I looked at the clock and it was already 11:00a.m. I got up, and got dressed in my swimming trunks and a Young & Reckless tank top. I put on my Nike slides, grabbed my phone and headed out. I’ll text momma in a bit, i'm going to the Fall of Legends. When I got there, the line was super short, but the landing platform was loaded. I quickly texted momma that I was going on the ride and I’ll text her when I’m done. I double checked to see if my Life proof case was on right. I sat my towel, shirt, and shoes at a table and got in the line. There were only 5 people. AHHHHHH! A guy was sky rocketing down the tube towards the bottom. He slid right into a long tunnel that took him to the crowd of people. I turned back around and I was next to climb the long 50 ft. ladder leading up to it. My heart started to beat an unusual beat, my palms got all sweaty, and my stomach twisted into a knot. I looked up, and it looked like at least 1000000 miles high. I began the long climb up, trying not to look scared in front of everyone. I started to get shortness of breath, my legs were getting tingling, and my arms were going numb. I finally reached the top, and get into the tube.
    “Keep your arms crossed, feet together, and keep these goggles on. Are you ready to have some fun?!” The guy asked. I shook my head yes, and prepared myself for the random drop. “Have fun.” The next thing I knew I was falling. I couldn’t breathe, and my lungs felt like they were collapsing. My throat was closing up, and my chest hurt. The next moment I was rushing towards a group of people. When I stopped, I couldn’t move, it felt like my whole body shut down. I started to cough, and everything started to slow down. People started to shout, scream that I needed help. I felt someone grab me and pull me out. I couldn’t say anything, or even breathe. I closed my eyes, not knowing what was going to happen. I felt a push on my chest, and that’s the last thing I remember. Beep. Beep. Beep. I woke up in a hospital room gasping for air. My mom rushed to my left side and Dr.Bob to my right. I tried to say something, but my throat was dry and it hurt.
    “Sam… your okay bud. The doctor said you went into Cardiac Arrest. He said once the drop started your heart stopped.” Momma said, still holding back the tears. I see a cup of water next to me. I took a long drink, and then I grabbed my mom by her left arm.
    “Let them out momma. Please just let the tears out. You are the best momma out there, and you did the best you could with me. I’m a fighter, but not a survivor. Momma it’s time for me to fly high with Mrs. Nancy and daddy. Tell Dakota I said I love him. And Dr.Bob, please look after momma for me.” I coughed, and looked back up at momma. “I love you momma. And I love you too Dr.Bob. Bye momma.” I seen the tears rush down momma’s face as I closed my eyes for the last time.
    “Someone! Please help my son! Please help me! Please please please!” Momma fell to her knees begging me to wake up. She grabbed my hand hard and said the final words I ever heard, “I love you Samuel Lee Coleman!” I was finally at peace.
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    It’s been 6 months since Sam’s passing. Although it hurts to get over, I have learned to accept the fact that death is a part of the life cycle. I have been talking to a man who has gone through the same thing with his daughter, and he knows how to respect the boundaries, same with me. Although Sam isn't here anymore, he still visits at least 5 times a week, which always leaves me with a smile knowing my baby boy is still here.