Teen switches sides in world of medicine

BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING staff Melanie Good, 15, receives a kiss from her mother, Edna Mazur Good, at their home in Sayreville. Melanie recently attended a National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine after deciding on a career in pediatric health care, following her own battle with leukemia. SAYREVILLE — Three years ago, Melanie Good was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Considered a more common form of childhood cancer, survival rates for the disease have risen in the last 20 years, from 20 to 80 percent. But at 12 years old, Melanie was older than most children with the disease, and doctors weren’t so sure of her chances.

“I was really scared,” said Julianne Good, Melanie’s 17-year-old sister. “I was afraid I was going to lose her.”

Despite being diagnosed while finishing seventh grade at St. Stanislaus Kostka School, MacArthur Avenue, Melanie remained positive.

“Not that it didn’t faze me, because it did,” said Melanie, now 15. “But I wasn’t too upset because they kept telling me I was going to be cured.

“They’ve dealt with this before at the hospital. I felt safe there,” she added.

The lifelong borough resident made the most of a scary situation by asking her doctors as many questions as she could, absorbing every last detail about the procedures being implemented to save her life.

It was during this time that the girl who had wanted to be an artist when she grew up decided she would rather become a doctor — specifically, a pediatric oncologist, treating children afflicted with cancer.

Edna Mazur Good, Melanie’s mother, described her youngest daughter as deep-thinking and laid-back, which could explain why she would ask questions instead of falling into despair.

“She was the type of patient that asked questions about everything,” Edna said. “I’m glad she took something negative and turned it into a positive.”

It was the doctors at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick who made Melanie decide to switch from pencils and paper to pediatric patients.

“They were very caring there,” Melanie said. “They deal with tragic stuff, but they’re happy.”

The decision to pursue a career in the medical field led Melanie to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) on Medicine in Philadelphia last week. She was one of 350 high school students selected from around the country to attend the 10-day event.

The NYLF is a nonprofit educational organization that has, since 1992, brought “various professions to life, empowering outstanding young people with the confidence to make well-informed career choices,” according to forum literature.

Throughout the forum, participants are introduced to a variety of concepts in public health, medical ethics, research and general practice, and site visits are made to medical facilities and clinics.

“It was like school; we did different things,” Melanie said. “We learned how to do sutures by stitching bananas, because they’re the closest to human skin.”

Melanie said she loved the event, which only further strengthened her desire to pursue a career in the healthcare field.

And those already in health care think she’ll be well enough to realize her goal.

In May 2004, Melanie received her last treatment for leukemia. Currently in remission, she will be considered cured if she does not have a relapse in the next two years.

The Goods said it was support from family, friends and their church community, both spiritually and financially, that helped them through the tough times.

And of course, a certain laid-back personality didn’t hurt either.

“Melanie made it easier on everybody,” Edna said. “She always downplayed it. She’d say, ‘There are kids with worse things than this.’

“She’s the type of person that never gives up, and it makes me proud,” she added.

Melanie isn’t the only one seeking a career in health care as a result of her experience. Julianne now works at a nursing home and is also interested in a career in health.

Julianne recalled that, when Melanie was still very sick, the two never fought. While it may not be as quiet at the Good household anymore, the sisters are still close.

“I’ll drive her a lot of places and say, ‘Oh, I’m never driving you anywhere again.’ Then I’ll drive her anyway,” she said. “I love her. She’s really cool.”

A single parent raising two teenage daughters, Edna said she is fortunate her children have turned out as well as they have.

“They’re good kids,” she said. “It makes me proud to know I must have done something right.”

As Melanie prepares for her junior year at Cardinal McCarrick High School in South Amboy, one thing seems clear: it’s all Good, and it’s only getting better.

“Other people are going through this, and it’s comforting to know they’re all right and I’m all right, and everyone’s going to be good eventually,” Melanie said. “It’s becoming more treatable every day.”