Today marks the anniversary of Mia’s cancer relapse, yet she remains focused on the future. For me, however, the weight of this day is overwhelming. A year ago, we were on the brink of starting anew, having just had our offer accepted on a house in Indiana. We believed we could escape the clutches of cancer and the Santa Susana Field Lab, which we suspect contributed to our health issues. But when Mia woke up with excruciating arm pain, our plans shattered as we rushed her to the hospital.
I felt it in my gut before the doctor confirmed it—my maternal instincts were validated by the somber look on the nurse’s face. Mia was diagnosed with PH+ leukemia for the second time, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. We canceled our home purchase from the hospital hallway, knowing that her best chance at survival lay in the care of our local children’s hospital, and our finances would shift from moving expenses to medical bills.
Mia’s doctors chose not to disclose her survival rate, likely to protect our dwindling hope. This battle was far tougher than her first. We spent over four months in the hospital while she underwent a bone marrow transplant. The intense chemotherapy and whole-body radiation aimed to obliterate the cancer and her bone marrow, leaving her with painful mouth ulcers that made eating, drinking, and even talking unbearable. She refused ice cream, suffered from fevers and nightmares, and required eleven blood transfusions. She lost the ability to walk or care for herself, battling relentless nausea and vomiting. Even morphine couldn’t alleviate all her pain, and isolation from friends took a toll on her spirit.
Mia was old enough to ask hard questions like, “Will I die?” and “Did I do something bad to deserve this?” Those moments nearly broke me. The day she ceased to cry or complain during shots was particularly harrowing—I feared she had lost her will to fight. Yet, through sheer determination and grace, she prevailed.
The Troubling Legacy of the Santa Susana Field Lab
According to an investigative report by NBC News 4 in Los Angeles, the Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL) has a troubling history. For decades, the site was used for experiments involving nuclear reactors and advanced rocket systems, but this work left a toxic legacy for countless residents nearby. Originally developed in the 1940s, the area is now home to over half a million people, many living just miles from the contaminated site. The lab suffered a partial nuclear meltdown in 1959, followed by numerous chemical spills and the burning of hazardous materials.
Both NASA and the Department of Energy are lagging in their cleanup efforts, while Boeing has resisted stringent remediation requirements. The continued contamination at SSFL puts more children at risk of developing cancer. Despite being one of the worst nuclear disasters in U.S. history, awareness remains alarmingly low. When we moved here, we were unaware of the dangers lurking just five miles away. After Mia’s diagnosis, we discovered that she was one of many children facing cancer in our community.
There have been multiple radioactive incidents without proper containment, and the community was promised a full cleanup by 2017—yet no action has been taken. It’s a tragic situation driven by financial interests, and our children are the ones paying the price.
Some children will survive, while others, like our friends Jack and Lily, will not. The pain of this reality is crushing. Each child I see suffering reminds me of Mia. I mourn for her lost childhood and the hardships she has endured—far too much for someone so young.
I grieve for her friends who have passed away and the uncertainty of safety for Mia, as cancer can return unexpectedly. I am angry that organizations like NASA and Boeing prioritized profit over the well-being of children. The grief is suffocating, and some days I cry until I can’t breathe.
I want to scream, “Why didn’t they protect her? She’s just a kid! Why won’t they protect our kids?” I am working hard to rebuild my faith, relying on my husband and our support network. I have been attending therapy and a recovery program, but the heaviness of my heart can feel insurmountable. Despite this, I choose to cling to hope. I will find joy in my children’s smiles and love, taking life one day at a time, even if it means confronting the painful reality of our fight for the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Lab.
Taking Action: Parents vs. SSFL
In response to my experiences, I founded Parents vs. SSFL, a grassroots organization of concerned parents advocating for the cleanup of radioactive and chemical contamination at the site. We are joined by other advocates and elected officials, and our petition has garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures demanding action. If there’s anything I can do to spare another child the suffering that Mia endured, I will find the courage to fight.
As Reinhold Niebuhr said, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
Conclusion
This article emphasizes the need for awareness and action regarding the cleanup of contaminated sites like SSFL, which have devastating effects on community health. For additional resources, you can explore this excellent guide on donor insemination at American Pregnancy.
Summary: This piece reflects on a mother’s struggle as her daughter battles cancer linked to a contaminated site. It highlights the ongoing fight for cleanup and the emotional toll on families affected by cancer in their community.