Young Adult

During my summer internship at General Motors in Flint, Michigan, I suddenly started feeling extremely restless. Soon after a lump the side of a golf ball appeared on my neck and I got an extreme sore throat. A doctor told me I just had a sinus infection and gave me Theraflu. 

I've been a cancer survivor since my bone marrow transplant at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in 2004.  I have minimal side effects and continue doing what I love -- spending time with family and friends, cycling, and teaching high school photography and video production.  One year after my transplant I did my first Team In Training event, a century ride in Lake Tahoe.

I was a nurse prior to getting diagnosed with cancer. When I was working I wondered to myself, how are my patients so strong laying in that hospital bed? Little did I know I was going to be one. At age 24, back in 2013, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

When I started this journey six years ago, I never would have imagined I would take part in TEN Team In Training events, but losing a great friend can motivate you to do incredible things.

As a new graduate with a master’s degree in psychology, I, among many others, am applying to jobs out in the 'real world.' Recently, one of the job applications asked me to describe myself in three words. My answer consisted of adjectives such as determined, capable, and diligent. The one word that best describes me though is one I did not use--"survivor."

I’m a junior-ish chemistry major at Waynesburg University. The reason I say “junior-ish” is because on Mar 12, 2013, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer.  Because of this, I had to withdraw for two semesters of school during spring break of my junior year.