Kelsey SpringstedFollow

In the summer of 2005, age 15, my family took a vacation to Disneyland. After, I woke up in excruciating pain shooting from my lower back to my feet. Id try to get up, but then pass out. An ambulance rushed me to the emergency room. It took a month to get diagnosed, for I was sent away. No one knew what was wrong. I traveled down to Loma Linda. A few days later, the doctors explained to me that I had a rare cancerous tumor called Ewing Sarcoma growing on spine. The only reason they found it was because I hit my back on the Matterhorn ride on our trip and that caused it to swell. It saved my life.

I began a vigorous chemotherapy treatment at Valley Childrens and underwent Proton Radiation at Loma Linda. Mid 2006, I finished my treatment and became a volunteer at Valley Childrens for the other teens and kids fighting. Unfortunately, almost at the end of my senior year, 2008, I found out my cancer was back. It reoccurred on my right lung. The doctors at Valley Childrens removed it and put me on a protocol of chemotherapy and radiation once again. During this round, I began taking singing lessons, remained a volunteer, and was open to support patients during their battle. I could relate to them and encouraged them to get up during the day, set goals, and keep as much of a positive attitude as they could. None of us are alone.

Currently I am off therapy, healthy and well. I stay in contact with many of the patients and will continue to volunteer. In the future, I dream to become a singer, a songwriter, an actress, and a nurse for oncology patients.