I am a woman. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a friend. I am a professional runner for Nike. And I am a childhood cancer survivor.
Most people who know me don’t know that last part.
When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). On my third birthday, my dad noticed my neck was covered in bruises as he clipped on my bike helmet. Concerned, my parents took me to the doctor, only to hear the words no parent should ever hear, “Your daughter has leukemia.”
I started chemotherapy almost immediately and remained on it for two years. Because I was so young, I don’t remember much of that time. In some ways, that’s a blessing. For my parents, though, those years were filled with trauma, sleepless nights, and the heartbreak of watching their three-year-old lose her hair, her energy, and on more than one occasion, almost her life.
But out of that darkness came strength. My family and I grew closer, and I believe it’s part of why I share such a deep bond with them today. It’s also where I first learned how to fight, how to endure, and how to never give up.
That resilience has shaped the person and athlete I am now. Today, I’m honored to compete as a professional runner for Nike, chasing dreams on the world stage. This fall, I’ll line up for the Chicago Marathon, aiming to run the fastest debut marathon ever by an American woman. But I won’t just be running for myself. I’ll be running and fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, now Blood Cancer United, to give back to the community that represents a huge part of my story.
Sometimes I even forget I’m a survivor, but when I pause and reflect, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for how far that little girl has come. I was given a second chance, and I carry that with me in every step I take.
To anyone fighting cancer, or loving someone who is, please know this — it doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Miracles happen. Hope is real. Never give up the fight.
On October 12, when I chase history in Chicago, I’ll also be running for those still in the fight, for those we’ve lost, and for those who need hope.
I was given a second chance. Now, I want to keep giving it forward.
Emily
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)
