My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventive scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventive measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of November 7, 2025, my last scan was not clear and did show a suspicious spot that my doctors are still discussing. I will be scanned again soon and possibly have a biopsy to determine the next course of action. I am thankful that due to the preventive scans, my first tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. I am currently pursuing my associate’s degree at East Mississippi Community College; then I plan to transfer to a university to complete my bachelor’s degree and master’s so that I can become a physician's assistant. Through my involvement in Make-a-Wish, I have raised awareness about brain cancer and supported individuals and other families affected by this disease. I have also befriended my fellow St. Jude patients who are my age. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last five years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to continue my studies. As a PA, grieving sibling, and cancer survivor, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials. Through a career in Healthcare, I plan to improve the lives of others by sharing my experience with holistic treatment alongside medical treatment.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventive scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventive measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of July 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan on November 7, 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventive scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. I am currently pursuing my associate’s degree at East Mississippi Community College; then I plan to transfer to a university to complete my bachelor’s degree and master’s so that I can become a physician's assistant. Through my involvement in Make-a-Wish, I have raised awareness about brain cancer and supported individuals and other families affected by this disease. I have also befriended my fellow St. Jude patients who are my age. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last five years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to continue my studies. As a PA, grieving sibling, and cancer survivor, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My name is Anna Johnson. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. My sister and I were always very healthy children and grew up in a loving home. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We celebrated every birthday together due to our birthdays being so close to each other. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when my sister was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was flown for emergency surgery to remove the tumor on that fateful day. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, we received a call from St. Jude Hospital informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). St. Jude’s genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventive scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of July 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer. I will have my next scan in November 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventive scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to go into the medical field. After high school, I continued my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then I will transfer to a university to complete my bachelor’s and master’s degrees so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to continue my studies. As a woman in healthcare, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

Many people including some medical personnel believe that holistic medicine is not a valid or respected form of medical treatment; however, this is a very close minded point of view considering that holistic medicine provides a full body and mind outlook on treatment and should be incorporated into Western medicine. In order to make a difference, I did my research paper for English Composition II on this topic. In this paper I shared from personal experience. Here are some facts: One reason that holistic medicine should be incorporated into Western medicine is because holistic medicine provides not only natural pharmaceutical benefits but also full mind and body healing due to the focus on all body systems functioning as one. Another reason holistic medicine should be incorporated into Western medicine is because natural holistic medicines tend to result in less negative side effects. A third reason that holistic medicine should be incorporated into Western medicine is because it promotes a healthy gut with a natural, organic detox diet, which may lead to a more stable level of white blood cells and more stable electrolytes circulating in the blood, which maintains a healthy immune system. A final reason that holistic medicine should be incorporated into Western medicine is because it has been used and proven successful in Oriental medicine for centuries. Michael is a teenage cancer patient, who had exhausted all his options provided by Western medicine. He had such a severe reaction to chemotherapy that resulted in him having to have surgical skin grafts placed all over his body. He could not take chemotherapy anymore. He was given a second chance through holistic medicine and is living long past his expected date of death. With holistic medicine, he is able to live a healthy comfortable life outside the hospital while living with his family. Another brain cancer patient, Ava chose to turn to holistic medicine and specialized diet when faced with the choice of pouring chemotherapy directly on her brain through a permanent hole with no other Western medicine options offered. If she had chosen the chemo, she would live the rest of her short life in the hospital while the chemo slowly broke down and killed her body. However, because of the use of holistic medicine, she was able to live at home on minimal pharmaceutical medications during most of her journey with cancer. Ava was my only sister who died holding my hand at home in her lovely bedroom that Make-a-Wish gave her. After having brain surgery, while going through radiation, I was treated with acupuncture and massages, which left me with a clear mind and a stress-free attitude. This gave my body full attention to focus on complete healing. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan to continue my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then go on to a university to complete my bachelor’s and master’s degrees so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My name is Anna Johnson. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family. What we originally thought was a stomach virus and migraines that my sister was having turned out to be a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was flown for emergency surgery to remove the tumor on that fateful day. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Then in August 2024, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of July 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in November 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a university to complete my bachelor’s and master's degrees so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. Many people including some medical personnel believe that holistic medicine is not a valid or respected form of medical treatment; however, this is a very close minded point of view considering that holistic medicine provides a full body and mind outlook on treatment and should be incorporated into Western medicine. Ava chose to turn to holistic medicine and specialized diet when faced with the choice of pouring chemotherapy directly on her brain through a permanent hole with no other Western medicine options offered. If she had chosen the chemo, she would live the rest of her short life in the hospital while the chemo slowly broke down and killed her body. However, because of the use of holistic medicine, she was able to live at home on minimal pharmaceutical medications during most of her journey with cancer. Also, while going through radiation, I was treated with acupuncture and massages, which left me with a clear mind and a stress-free attitude. This gave my body full attention to focus on complete healing. This is the part that I enjoy or find meaningful about science.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li- Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan on July 22-23, 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. I chose to apply to this scholarship because this scholarship can help me to achieve my goals. My family has already been through so much, and we are not wealthy. I need all the financial help I can get to achieve my goals.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li- Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan on July 22-23, 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can get my master's and become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. Because childhood cancer is a traumatic life experience that affects the entire family of the patient, at the request of some patients and parents, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has started experimenting with using some aspects of holistic medicine. For example, after having brain surgery, while going through radiation, I was treated with acupuncture and massages, which left me with a clear mind and a stress-free attitude. This gave my body full attention to focus on complete healing. As a result, I did my English Composition research paper on holistic/Chinese medicine versus Western medicine. This challenged me to change my eating habits and my lifestyle so that now I am eating healthy and exercising regularly. It is working. I feel good and maintain energy and a positive outlook on life.

My name is Anna Johnson. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when my sister was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can get a master's and become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and was able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials. I support women's empowerment by encouraging other women to join me in the medical field, to complete whatever degrees they choose, and stand their ground against any men who might try to discourage them or put them down.

This is how my faith influenced my leadership style. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can get a master's and become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation, which left me with a disability and a 504 plan. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree, and on to a graduate school so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials. Additional funds would help me to achieve this goal, as I do not come from a wealthy family, I do not have a high enough ACT score to get scholarships, and I plan to work part time while attending school.

If selected for this scholarship, I would use my scholarship funds to pay for my college tuition and expenses so that I can become a physician's assistant. Here is why: My only sibling, Ava, was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor when she was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At age 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after her death, St. Jude Hospital genetics department informed us that Ava had Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I also have the LFS gene. St. Jude Hospital suggested that I come every 6 months for preventative scans. About a year and a half later, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan to get my associate’s at EMCC, go on to complete my bachelor’s degree, then master's so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude. I am thankful for every day that I am given. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. After much thought, I decided to be tested. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

I am worth the dreams I aspire to achieve because I am an overcomer. I am a high-grade glioma brain cancer survivor. This is my story: My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My physical disability has influenced who I am by making me more sensitive and empathetic to others who also have disabilities. For example, while I was at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, I made friends with Mia, another cancer patient who is in her 20s and has a rare form of leukemia. Mia is confined to a wheelchair and has a service dog. Her mom is her only support. They are so alone. While I was at St. Jude receiving treatment, I visited Mia several times, and every time I came, she seemed to brighten up and feel joy and happiness. We visited several times before my treatment ended and I went home. After I got home, I decided to invite Mia, her mom, and her dog to my house for the weekend to give her a break from hospital life, but my house has stairs that Mia cannot manipulate. So, we arranged for Mia to stay in a handicapped-accessible cottage at a local golf course. Then, Mom and I spent the weekend there with them. We laughed, ate, and just had a great time hanging out. We managed to get a golf cart, and I let Mia drive around while I rode with her. It was the best weekend ever, and I am so glad we did it because now Mia is dying. St. Jude has told her that they have done all that they can do for her. My own physical disability has influenced me to love people like Mia, to reach out to them and give them some joy in their lives no matter how short their days may be. My life, up until age 14, could be considered normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling, and we were best friends. In April 2021, Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, St. Jude Hospital informed us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder--Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Therefore, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I come to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years.

Empowerment to me means the ability, the power, the grit and determination to overcome obstacles in order to achieve one's goals. This is how empowerment has affected my life: My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. I have overcome brain surgery and radiation and maintained a 4.0 GPA while doing so. That is my superpower. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials. This is how empowerment has affected my life.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. In the midst of all this chaos, we moved into the large farm house with Pop, my paternal grandfather, who has mental health issues and is an alcoholic. Life with Pop is challenging, as he constantly tries to start a fight with everyone who crosses his path. I find it difficult to live with him. We call him the "kitchen Nazi" because every time anyone tries to cook or get a snack, he immediately appears and starts supervising. Ava had a superpower to deal with him--every time he said or asked something to start a fight with her, she would just roll her eyes, and walk upstairs to our apartment, never saying a word. Unfortunately, I am not that good--I end up answering him, and we end up in a quarrel. There is no peace in the home with him. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years.

My name is Anna Johnson. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, until I was ten, then moved to West Point where I currently live. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. My sister and I were always very healthy children and grew up in a loving home. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We celebrated every birthday together due to our birthdays being so close to each other. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family. What we originally thought was a stomach virus and migraines that my sister was having turned out to be a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was flown for emergency surgery to remove the tumor on that fateful day. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. After much thought, I decided to be tested. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My name is Anna Johnson. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. After much thought, I decided to be tested. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My name is Anna Johnson. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials. Before cancer, I had planned to major in art, but now I believe STEM is where I belong. As a woman, I hope to make a difference in the field by bringing my empathy and gentleness into my work with my patients and their families.

My name is Anna Johnson. My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. After much thought, I decided to be tested. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

If I could start a business with my deceased sibling, it would be an organization or insurance company that covers holistic medicine treatments alongside Western medicine treatments. Here is why. Many people including some medical personnel believe that holistic medicine is not a valid or respected form of medical treatment; however, this is a very close minded point of view considering that holistic medicine provides a full body and mind outlook on treatment and, therefore, should be incorporated into Western medicine. One reason that holistic medicine should be incorporated into Western medicine is that holistic medicine provides not only natural pharmaceutical benefits but also full mind and body healing due to the focus on all body systems functioning as one. For example, after having brain surgery, while going through radiation, I was treated with acupuncture and massages, which left me with a clear mind and a stress-free attitude. This gave my body full attention to focus on complete healing. Another reason holistic medicine should be incorporated into Western medicine is that natural holistic medicines tend to result in less negative side effects. Ava chose to turn to holistic medicine and specialized diet when faced with the choice of pouring chemotherapy directly on her brain through a permanent hole with no other Western medicine options offered. If she had chosen the chemo, she would live the rest of her short life in the hospital while the chemo slowly broke down and killed her body. However, because of the use of holistic medicine, she was able to live at home on minimal pharmaceutical medications during most of her journey with cancer. Some would argue that holistic medicine can be quite expensive and insurance providers will not pay for the vast majority of holistic treatments. One reason why insurance companies will not pay is that they argue that holistic medicine has not been proven, with not enough studies to do so. Though this may be true, holistic medicine provides a healthier more cohesive healing of the body. If pharmaceutical companies, doctors, hospitals, and scientists would embrace the idea of cohesively incorporating holistic medicine practices and supplements into their Western medicine patient care plan, then the adequate research could be obtained to gain respect from the insurance companies and, therefore, be included in coverage under nationwide health insurance plans.  Natural probiotic yogurt has been known to promote general gut health and well-being. The appropriate holistic medicine plan can be successful in decreasing harmful side effects of chemotherapy. Eastern medicine practices have been used as a respectable form of medical treatment for at least 2,000 years. Despite these positive benefits and promising results related to holistic medical treatment, currently in the USA the health insurance companies will not cover the cost for the majority of holistic treatments and herbal supplements, but this can change.

This scholarship funding would go a long way in helping me pay for my associate's degree. I do not come from a rich family. We are basically a middle class family that is doing all we can to make ends meet. After my freshman year in high school, I dropped out of sports and went to work because I felt it was a better use of my time to spend those hours making money instead of paying to be in the sport then practicing and playing for nothing. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when my only sister was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At age 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. Ava chose to turn to holistic medicine and specialized diet when faced with the choice of pouring chemotherapy directly on her brain through a permanent hole with no other Western medicine options offered. If she had chosen the chemo, she would live the rest of her short life in the hospital while the chemo slowly broke down and killed her body. However, because of the use of holistic medicine, she was able to live at home on minimal pharmaceutical medications during most of her journey with cancer. After having brain surgery, while going through radiation, I was treated with acupuncture and massages, which left me with a clear mind and a stress-free attitude. This gave my body full attention to focus on complete healing. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. After much thought, I decided to be tested. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation, which left me with a 504 plan for my cognitive disabilities. However, I still maintained a A in my senior courses. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. In April 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li- Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

If my life were a movie, the title would be "The Twisted Path," and the opening scene would be something like this: My mom, my dad, and I are gathered around my younger sister Ava (age 13) in her bedroom. It is 3 a.m. We are hugging her, holding her hands and talking to her. I just told her, "If you want to hear a funny story, squeeze my hand." Ava squeezes my hand, and I start telling her a funny story. She smiles, but her eyes are closed because the brain cancer has already taken her sight. She is unable to laugh out loud because the cancer has also taken her voice. Little by little, the cancer has taken everything from her except her hearing and her breathing. We continue speaking to her softly and lovingly as she struggles to breathe. The cancer has moved into that part of her brain. I am hugging her and holding her hand as she breathes her last breath. There is a bright light, and the scene suddenly shifts to me as a physician's assistant in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I am standing by the bedside of a child who has the same diagnosis as my sister. I am finishing the funny story that I started with Ava. End of opening scene. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. After much thought, I decided to be tested. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family. My sister was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. After much thought, I decided to be tested. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My favorite thing about the planet is the variety of beauty from the mountains, to the grassy hills, to the sandy beaches. Although I love camping with my family in the Adirondack Mountains of New York and enjoying the lush greenery, the clear rivers and lakes, and the rocky cliffs to explore, my favorite place to be is on a beach scrunching the sand between my toes, picking up shells along the seashore, and lying on the warm sand to tan. There is nothing more beautiful than a sunrise or a sunset over the ocean. Actions I have taken to create a better environment in my community, city, state, etc. to ensure that this thing stays intact may seem small and insignificant, but I believe they are powerful and important. First of all, my family has always taught me to clean up after myself, so wherever I go, I pick up litter. I always leave my surroundings better and cleaner than when I came. When I go camping or picnicking, I always make sure that I pick up everything that I brought in. If it's garbage, I throw it in a trash bin or bag. I believe that setting this example for my friends is very important, and when friends are with me, I make them pick up their own trash and dispose of it properly. This keeps the planet clean as much as possible in our part of the world. Another action I have taken is to encourage and befriend fellow cancer patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. While I was undergoing radiation treatments, I crocheted hats to give away to fellow patients who had lost their hair during treatment. It brought smiles to all their faces. While there, I befriended Mia, a leukemia patient who is in her 20s and is wheelchair bound and has a service dog. She had not been able to leave St. Jude for a long time, so I invited her to visit me in my hometown about 2 hours away. Because our farm house has stairs and no ramps, we rented a ground-level cottage at a local golf course, and we stayed there together with our moms. Mia had the best weekend of her life. We rode around on a golf cart and just enjoyed being outside in the sunshine, something Mia had not been able to do in a long time. A third action that I have taken is to be a representative for Make-a-Wish. This action has been a challenge for me because it has required me to make videos, appear at certain big functions, and be on stage in front of large crowds. However, I am glad to do it for Make-a-Wish because they have done so much for my family. They remodeled my sister's bedroom when she was dying of brain cancer, and now they are sending my parents and me to Hawaii as my wish after being treated for brain cancer. My final action is to make this world more beautiful through music. Almost every Sunday, I join my mom in leading worship and singing along with her (sometimes harmonizing) at a little country church--Cedar Bluff Baptist Church. Although my actions may seem small, they are significant to each place and life that they touch, and I believe they are making this world a better place.

Taking English Composition II (college level) class online while going through surgery and radiation treatments for brain cancer was definitely a challenging learning experience, teaching me to dig deep into research and check my information thoroughly without overstressing myself. Learning to back my research and properly cite my resources was something I needed to touch up on. I really expanded my vocabulary and broadened my writing and probably read more than I ever have, causing me to realize I really enjoy reading. Writing the exam boosted my confidence in writing. I had never written a research paper that long before, and I am quite proud of how it turned out. Learning how to do proper research will be something I will take with me throughout college and in my everyday life. Taking the class also taught me that I definitely feel better after finishing my homework, but I also have to pace myself because good things take time. I would find myself stressing over an assignment before I could even take the time to check the work. Later on in the semester, I began to realize it’s okay to take my time and that I don’t have to be finished right after the assignment is given to me. Learning this will definitely help me throughout life but also in my plans for the future to become a physician's assistant, being patient and taking my time with people and work. My only sister was 11 years old when she was diagnosed with brain cancer, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field to help others.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family. What we originally thought was a stomach virus and migraines that my sister was having turned out to be a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was flown for emergency surgery to remove the tumor on that fateful day. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, until I was ten, then moved to West Point where I currently live. My grandparents were Southern Baptist missionaries to upstate New York, so faith has always played a major role in my life. When I asked Jesus to save me at age 5, I wanted my Paw (grandfather) to baptize me, so we traveled to New York so he could baptize me at his church. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. My sister and I were always very healthy children and grew up in a loving home. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We celebrated every birthday together due to our birthdays being so close to each other. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family. What we originally thought was a stomach virus and migraines that my sister was having turned out to be a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was flown for emergency surgery to remove the tumor on that fateful day. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). This type of syndrome is known to cause a multitude of different types of cancer in young patients. The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at East Mississippi Community College to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. Although my faith has been shaken, I still serve the Lord, and I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials. Other people in my family have influenced me to pursue higher education. My grandmother has an Ed.D., my Paw has 2 master's degrees, and my mom is a RN-BSN.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was flown for emergency surgery to remove the tumor on that fateful day. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.

My life, up until the age of 14, could be considered pretty normal. I grew up with both of my parents in the home, and had one sister, named Ava. She was my only sibling. Ava and I were three years apart, and we were best friends. We could tell each other all of our deepest secrets, and I always knew I could make her laugh and smile like nobody else. On April 13, 2021, our lives changed forever as a family when Ava was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumor. She was flown for emergency surgery to remove the tumor on that fateful day. She was 11 years old when she was diagnosed, and she fought like a true soldier, suffering through 2 brain surgeries, 5 different chemotherapies, and 60 radiation treatments over the course of one year and 8 months. At the age of 13, Ava lost her battle with cancer. My mother, father, and I were with her when she took her last breath. Shortly after my sister’s death, my mother received a call from St. Jude Hospital genetics department informing us that Ava had tested positive for a rare genetic disorder known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS). The St. Jude genetic staff then asked if I wanted to be tested for LFS since there was a 50-50 chance that I also would carry the gene. Unfortunately, I was also found to have the LFS gene. When you have this gene, there is a 50% chance that you will develop some type of cancer during your lifetime. Because of the concerns related to having LFS, St. Jude Hospital suggested that I begin coming to their facility every 6 months for preventative scans and tests. About a year and a half after I began participating in the preventative measures, St. Jude discovered a small high grade glioma in my brain. It was determined to be a very early version of an extremely aggressive type of brain cancer. I then had to also undergo brain surgery and 30 treatments of radiation. Ironically, my sister’s surgeon and her oncology team were now mine as well. As of March 2025, my last scan was clear and did not show any cancer or tumors. I will have my next scan in July 2025 and will be scanned every 3 months for quite some time. I am thankful that due to the preventative scans, my tumor was found very early, which improves my chances of long-term survival. I wish that my sister could have had the same. However, because of her brave fight, she saved my life. The twisted path that my life has taken has led me to have a desire to go into the medical field. After high school, I plan on continuing my education at EMCC to get my associate’s, then going on to a four-year college to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can become a physician's assistant. I hope to someday possibly work for St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The people and staff there have become such an important part of my life throughout these last four years. As you can see, my life has definitely become far from normal. I am thankful for every day that I am given. I am thankful for having survived brain surgery and radiation treatment and that I am currently healthy and able to finish high school. Hopefully, I will be able to use my life experience to help others who may go through similar trials.