Inspirational Stories

Everything was going great in life. I had just quit my job to pursue my dreams of starting a business, moved closer to family, bought our first house, and got a puppy. Then, a small lump on my neck changed my life forever.

I, a 25-year-old half marathoner with no health issues, was diagnosed with stage 2a Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The chemo (ABVD) about killed me. I went from living an active life to needing help with the simplest of tasks. But I made it through, and boy, did we celebrate.

Everything was looking up until about a year later when I faced my biggest fear: RELAPSE. I was hit with heartbreak, denial, anxiety, and fear of the unknown.

I did another month of chemo (Pembro GVD) followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. I was hospitalized for 17 days and spent 34 days away from home (traveling to Colorado from Wyoming). Now, I’m cancer-free and receive maintenance therapy every six weeks.

Cancer changed my life forever, but I’m not letting it stop me. I’m continuing to grow my business, and I’m back to running again, hoping to run my first marathon soon.

By sharing my story, I’m hoping to shed light on the challenges and experiences of young people with cancer.