Three and a half years in the past, basketballer Tiana Mangakahia wakened at 5am to her head tingling.
She was shedding her hair after beginning chemotherapy weeks earlier.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tiana Mangakahia’s letter to basketball throughout chemotherapy.
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This week, she’s on courtroom with the Sydney Flames, enjoying the sport she penned an emotional letter to throughout remedy, promising to return.
“Pricey basketball, I met you once I was 5 years outdated … we have been on this journey collectively for 19 years and I do know we’ll be doing life collectively for a lot of extra,” she mentioned in an emotional video on the time.
“Though we’re on a break proper now, I do know you may be the most important a part of my comeback journey.
“You have introduced so many blessings to my life and have taken me on an journey of a lifetime removed from house, in Australia and Kansas and now Syracuse.
“I miss you, I like you and I will probably be again quickly.”
This was a prophecy she fulfilled two years later.
Mangakahia was identified with breast most cancers in 2019 at simply 23 years of age after discovering a lump on her left breast whereas showering, shortly after being named within the Opals’ preliminary Olympic squad.
The analysis was invasive ductal carcinoma and he or she elected to stay in Syracuse, New York the place she was enjoying on the time.
Present process a double mastectomy adopted by reconstructive surgical procedure, her 5 brothers all shaved their heads in solidarity together with her.
“All 5 of them shaved their heads so I wasn’t alone, they have been with me each step of the best way, even now they’re all coming to observe me play over New Years,” she advised 7NEWS.com.au .
“On the time I mentioned to Mum I am simply gonna shave it… I felt very upset at the start and I did not know if I wished to put on wigs or headbands. I did not know if I wished to only embrace my bald head and simply roll with it.
“Originally I wore head wraps after which after most likely a couple of month I mentioned, cease it, I am bored with making an attempt to cover it … and that is probably not me anyway, I am a really open individual, I’ m simply gonna rock it.
“I felt like once I did that, I felt myself and was far more comfy.”
Having celebrated three years most cancers free in November this yr, the 27-year-old is again on courtroom.
“After I look again, I feel ‘Oh, my goodness, how did I get via that,'” she mentioned.
“It even shocked me that I received via as a result of I understand how I used to be feeling, I do know what was happening in my life… there was lots happening with my relationship, with basketball, with lots.
“Generally once I suppose again, I am unable to even clarify it as a result of I am simply so glad I received via it.”
Mangakahia was undrafted within the 2021 WNBA draft held on April 15 and returned to Australia to signal with the NBL1 North’s Northside Wizards.
She additionally inked a contract to play for the Russian Girls’s Premier League’s Dynamo Moscow after the NBL1 season, and he or she’s at the moment enjoying within the WNBL with the Sydney Flames.
On her return to basketball, Mangakahia mentioned it has “been tough mentally, however it’s additionally been actually superb on the similar time.”
“I am simply actually comfortable to be again enjoying basketball and to be wholesome.
“After chemo and surgical procedures I needed to be on drugs for some time and it put me into menopause, so it actually affected my weight, and my feelings.
“I ended up going off that drugs a couple of yr and a bit in the past and I feel that is the principle cause why I am as profitable as I’m now.
“Enjoying earlier than, I used to be sluggish and my muscular tissues and bones weren’t actually as much as it.
“Now seeing the place I’m in comparison with the place I used to be is a large change and I am simply so glad that I used to be capable of overcome that.
“I am again to the place I used to be like, I’ve nonetheless received a lot extra to come back.”
When Mangakahia wrote her love letter to basketball, she knew she wished to return, however it wasn’t concerning the success on courtroom.
“I all the time knew I wished to come back again and play my senior yr at school and I did and I wasn’t good, it was most likely the worst yr of my profession,” she mentioned.
“I knew I wished to play however it wasn’t the be all and finish all, I did not care as a lot about basketball as I used to, and it helped me put life and basketball into perspective.
“Earlier than I used to be identical to basketball, basketball, basketball, and that is all I cared about and all I dreamed of after which when this occurred to me and it helped me notice that there is a lot extra to life than basketball.
“Even now once I get unhappy about sure issues, I am identical to … that is nothing.”
Mangakahia says she’s waiting for a full lifetime of “beginning a household and settling down in a single place as a substitute of touring on a regular basis,” however her basketball goals are nonetheless “within the image.”
“I might like to play within the Olympics… and even simply the chance to go to the tryouts and get invited to a camp can be superb,” she mentioned.
“I simply must preserve performing and preserve exhibiting the coaches and everybody what I can do. It is undoubtedly a purpose of mine.”
