After Cancer I Was Promised a Guitar
By St. Baldrick’s Ambassador Aaron Pinsky
My name is Aaron Pinsky. I’m 16 years old and I’m 11 years cancer-free. From here most people would talk about their journey and what they dealt with, who helped them through it, and anything that came from it afterwards, but I figured instead I’d talk about something that I’m truly passionate about and does have a bit to do with my journey… being a guitarist.
As I have grown up, before and after my cancer treatment, my dad has always played the guitar which I had always found super cool, and I wanted to play just like him. I didn’t know it at the time, but this wouldn’t happen until after I had beat cancer.
That’s right, I said cancer. I was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma when I was 4 years old after I stopped walking. But that’s not what this story is about. It’s about what comes after.
While I was in the hospital being treated, a couple of things were promised to me if I remember correctly, an R2-D2 Lego set, a dog, and a guitar. A year after I had been cancer-free and went through an MRI showing that I was completely free of any cancer, I was gifted my first guitar — a beautiful blue Ibanez guitar. I was so happy when I got it and I wanted to play right away, but of course I would need lessons first. And so, I got lessons a bit later and started learning. Soon enough I started picking up some skill and being able to play full songs.
When I was 10 years old (5 years clean) I started playing at School of Rock which allowed me to be able to play with others and get to rock out on stage. Also, the same year I got my favorite guitar at an auction at a charity event. After a couple of shows I had really improved and was full out rocking on stage with my fellow bandmates. In 2019, I had to have surgery on my back to readjust my spine, but after a few months of healing I got right back at it with my guitar. Even though I had to sit down during the show while playing, I still got to rock. Three years later, I got to participate in my favorite show I’ve ever done which was Surf Rock, and in that show, I got to play to my heart’s desire and be able to jam as loud as ever on my guitar. Recently, I left School of Rock, but I’m still rocking today whether it’s at a friend’s house, with my family, or just in my own room chilling.
You may still be wondering why I am telling you this whole story on my guitar journey and not on my cancer journey. The reason is, I want to show anyone and everyone that even though there may be some bumps in the time after beating cancer, you can still live a very normal life and a very happy one. Even though I had cancer all those years ago it has stopped me from nearly nothing, and even though I had a surgery where I needed to stop doing some stuff for a while, I got to go back to rocking with my guitar and do what I want. So, I want to be the person to say that you can live a great life after going through cancer and provide hope that there can be light at the end of the tunnel.
