My story starts off when I was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2011 when I was 3. I was too young to understand how life-altering my diagnosis was, and that's thanks to all of the love and support I had from my family, nurses, and doctors. I rang the bell the first time after those few tough years and finally had my childhood back. I lived my life as a normal kid in peace without having to worry about the next hospital visit or operation for five years.
On September 12, 2016, I relapsed with ALL and spent months at a time in the hospital. I celebrated multiple birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings, and New Year's from my hospital room with my loving family and nurses. My favorite holiday memory was on New Year’s when my mom lit off a popper and got in trouble for nearly setting off the fire alarms. Finally, after my 4½-year battle, I rang the bell for a second time in 2018.
Five years later, I applied and got into the sports medicine and exercise science program at Harford Technical High School and am currently studying to be a personal trainer while I go to college to study nursing. I now participate in my school's clubs and am currently working on my application to join the National Honor Society. One of my extracurricular activities includes Sports for Life, which allows me to teach and assist special needs students of all ages in various sporting activities. At my school, I am also a tri-athlete and am on the varsity track and field hockey team and junior varsity basketball team. My interest in sports extends into my coaching job, where I coach soccer to children of all ages. To make a full circle, I started my life as a sick kid lacking a normal childhood and am currently a successful and involved student, athlete, and coach.
Mia
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
