When I was 8 years old, I was diagnosed with leukemia. By the age of 10 I was cancer free. I’m now 37. I didn’t talk much about my struggle with cancer until nearly 15 years after being cancer free. I think for a while I locked away those two years like they never happened. I guess I was scared to rehash the hard times, but I’m so glad I finally opened up. I didn’t realize until later years that not opening up about my battle led me to have anxiety as an adult. Going through chemotherapy, spinal taps, surgeries, blood and platelet transfusions, and life-threatening infections as a child was a different childhood that any of my current friends had.

I felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders when I started talking about my struggle; I never realized how good I would feel opening up 15 years later. I found strength by connecting with others that have cancer and have since started speaking to kids currently fighting the battle. It makes me feel more in control and it gives me a purpose in life to help them understand that they’re not alone. -Taylor, NC

YOUR MESSAGE -"Find strength by connecting with others"