Inspirational Stories

When I was 17, I was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). 

In January 2022, my dad sat me down and told me he had cancer, penile cancer, and he told me he would have to have multiple surgeries to get it removed. The next week my dad sat me down, yet again, and told me my grandfather, his dad, had cancer, prostate cancer. I felt completely overwhelmed at this time. Cancer had never been a thing I had to worry about or something I really knew much about. 

The next week I noticed this really large lump on my neck; it was rock solid. My parents told me it was probably just swollen lymph nodes from having COVID, but I could tell this was extremely abnormal, so I went to the doctor by myself. I was told, “You have a tumor in your neck, and we need to get this process started immediately.” The next day I got an ultrasound done and was told by my dad later that evening, “You have lymphoma.” In the weeks following, I had a surgical biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis. The next week we saw my oncologist for the first time, and the biopsy results finally came back, and it was clear, stage 2 HL.

Things moved extremely fast after that. I got my port put in, and I started chemo that week. Unfortunately, I started chemo while having a stomach virus which led to food poisoning, which led to sepsis. I was in intensive care for eight days, and it was truly a miracle that I recovered. Immediately after becoming conscious from my septic hospitalization, we started my second round of chemo. After coming out of this septic state, I felt this urge of power over my life, and I decided that I could not control the situation, but I could control the way I reacted to this. So, I took charge of my situation. I noticed my hair starting to fall out, and I said, “Dad, we’re shaving it.” We both shaved our heads, and life went on. 

Through the end of the school year and from my first, second, third, and fourth rounds of chemo, I finished my school year online because I knew how important it was to me to not fall behind, so, I finished it. It was June, and it was time to finish my fifth and final round of chemo. I did it. 

My dad and grandpa were both now done with their surgeries, and they were now fully recovering and carrying on with life, and I wanted to be there. So, I did my final PET scan, and I anxiously waited one month for my final results. On July 14, I went to the doctor, and I heard it, remission. I got my port taken out that day, and life went on. I went back to work. I resumed my college classes over the summer, so I could continue to put myself a step ahead, and I fought through my own inner demons. I learned to love this new version of myself that I now was. In December 2022, I had shoulder surgery, something we had been waiting on for a year. I graduated high school in June 2023, and on July 14, 2023, I celebrated one year in remission. My mission to spread awareness and to continue to love and accept this new version of myself are my biggest priorities. I am so thankful that the world put me through this at a time when it knew I needed it most.