Patient: Young Adults

When I was 16 years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I had previously been on track to graduate early, I was just cast in a play, a member of DECA, GSA, the improv team, and Key Club. So, all of that went away. I had to leave school immediately and drop out of all of it, including the play and all the clubs I was in.

A lot of times, when we hear about cancer, it’s the BIG stories. You’re usually hearing about someone beating the odds or going through a really extreme course of treatment, and having the experience change them as a person. But I really think I would have benefited from hearing more of the boring side of cancer.

I found out in February 2024 that I had stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) at the age of 23. I could barely walk as my feet were swollen from the lymphedema. My body was tender and in a constant state of fatigue, waking up as if I had just run a marathon. Night sweats, nausea, lung infections, painful testing, it felt like I was going through it all. I lost my job as a restaurant manager.

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.

I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at the age of 22 in April 2024. I am a mom to a now two-year-old who I had to be apart from for four months to get treatment.