"Taylor has a rare tumor in her spinal cord." "Your sister has cancer." "We can't come home because the best treatment is here." "The cancer spread to her brain." These are all comments that were made to me about my sister who was diagnosed with cancer and then went to Heaven eighteen months later. Hearing the first comment was the start of mental health struggles I have worked through. Hearing your best friend and sister who is your biggest role model has cancer is life altering and that is the start of my mental health struggles. I had been diagnosed with type one diabetes less than two years before her diagnosis so I had already had a lot of adjustments and anxiety with managing it. My mom was with me through all of it and we learned how “think like a pancreas” to help me have a life as close to my peers as possible. We were doing okay with everything and I was doing fine managing it, but had the consistent support of my mom. However, my mom and sister went out of state for a second opinion and after that, everything changed. My sister had her second surgery out of state and became paralyzed. She was at an amazing hospital with an amazing medical team and the decision was made to stay there for rehabilitation and proton beam radiation for six weeks. Everything I was used to with my sister and mom was completely gone and I didn’t know how to handle or process everything. I was even more terrified than the first I heard she had a rare tumor in her spinal cord. As a diabetic, I constantly have to look at labels on food because I dose for how many carbohydrates I need to dose for. As I was doing this, I started to look at calories. This quickly escalated into me restricting food and I developed a severe eating disorder that I am still working through. I struggle each and every day with trying to remember why I should eat instead of why I should not eat. Restricting was my way of controlling things when everything else was so far out of control. I isolated myself, I worked hard at school to achieve, I tried to be the best at all of my sports activities. I became of shell of who I was because I didn’t know what else to do. Since the diagnosis, I have been working hard to heal mentally and physically. I have a grief and trauma therapist who helps me with losing my sister and essentially feeling lost the whole time. I also have an eating disorder therapist and nutritionist who help me with recovery. I am making gains and have seen parts of freedom, but it is a constant battle. I am fully aware of the importance of mental health and share with others things I have been through and am going through. I am studying to be an occupational therapist and know that once I achieve my goal of being an OT, I will have the ability to be there for my patients on another level because of the things I have been through and my empathetic, supportive nature will be appreciated. Because of the things I have been through and my dedication to improving my mental health, I am more aware of times another may be struggling. I reach out to people. I check in. I listen and am present when I am with people and share things that have helped me and could potentially help them. I am confident in saying that without the support I have for my mental health and my dedication to acknowldgeing it and working toward a positive state of mind, I would not be here. I strive to make my sister proud and want to live a full life, which includes being aware of mental health and supporting others.

Although I did not live in a rural area growing up, I was immersed in a rural area in the summers when we would go to my grandparent's house in eastern Iowa. My mom grew up in a small town and we would go there each summer a couple of times for at least a week. When we were there, my mom was always taking us around and showing us how she grew up. She was in a small community where people always came together to support each other and she showed us things we never would have known about if she didn't make that a priority and take time to do that with us. We spent time doing things in the small community, went to family farms, helped with the animals, walked around cemeteries where we heard lots of stories and history, and more. When I think about my future as an occupational therapist, I feel I could have a positive impact on a rural area by possibly working for a company with in-home care and support. I know there is a need for support in rural areas, especially when there could be circumstances where people have had something happen that significantly changed their lives, and getting to a bigger area could be challenging. My sister was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumor when she was fifteen. After her second surgery, she became paralyzed and was inpatient at a couple of different hospitals. Through this experience, I became aware of the importance of therapy, both inpatient and outpatient, and I know the importance of staying consistent. There are people my family became friends with through all of this who were from rural areas. When they were being discharged, there was oftentimes stress about how they would handle things at home. For my sister's situation, she was able to have my mom take her to outpatient therapies. But for some of these others, they had so much stress about how they would drive a few hours to therapy several times a week to do what was best for recovery. This is also considering winter in the mid-west and any other factors. Listening to my mom talk to other moms about what they were going to do to help their child when they went home, I am aware of the stress they were feeling. Every day I want to be sure that I am having a positive impact on the world like my sister did. My motivation and drive to become an occupational therapist come from when she was sick. I watched the relationships that were built between the medical care team with my sister and other patients and the level of trust that was there when working on independence. I want to be that for others. In being a CNA at a rehabilitation facility this summer, I am supporting people who need help and are not able to be independent with some things. I am gaining great experiences that I will continue to build upon as I pursue my education. Working with people in a rural area could have a significant impact on people who may need support in the home and I would be proud to do that after hearing what other families had to struggle with in certain situations.

I decided to pursue my education in healthcare because I have had some significant things happen in my life and my sister’s life that were directly linked to healthcare in life altering ways. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes when I was eleven years old. I went to a regular check-up and we were sent directly to Children’s Hospital for three days of education about diabetes and how to live with it. I learned how to take my blood sugar, count carbohydrates, deal with insulin ratios, how to give myself a shot of insulin, the role of nutrition in a diabetic’s life, how to treat lows and highs, and so much more. The healthcare professionals that I met with were kind, patient, knowledgeable, and I knew they wanted what was best for me. Two years later my sister was diagnosed with a stage four tumor in her spinal cord. After her second surgery, she became paralyzed. She was at five different hospitals through her illness before going to Heaven eighteen months later. I was able to witness the impact all of the healthcare providers had on her life, as well as my whole family. A large part of my sister being sick was her motivation to learn to walk again so she could run, dance, drive me around, play volleyball, have fun with her friends, etc. Watching her with her physical therapists and occupational therapists had a major impact on me. I am going to become an occupational therapist in order to have a positive influence on people who may be going through a life changing event. I am a very empathetic person who genuinely wants the best for everyone I meet. I am motivated to help others and am an excellent listener when someone needs to talk, which I think is very important when in the health field, and specifically someone who needs occupational therapy support. My ambition is to create beneficial, supportive relationships with my patients in order to help them achieve all of their goals in order to get back to their lives. My drive is fueled by wanting to carry on my sister’s legacy by treating everyone the way she did - with kindness, genuine empathy, and being their biggest supporter. I will strive to be an occupational therapist that is an integral part of the care team that leaves an impression on all of her patients and their families.

I decided to pursue my education in healthcare because I have had some significant things happen in my life and my sister’s life that were directly linked to healthcare in life altering ways. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes when I was eleven years old. I went to a regular check-up and we were sent directly to Children’s Hospital for three days of education about diabetes and how to live with it. I learned how to take my blood sugar, count carbohydrates, deal with insulin ratios, how to give myself a shot of insulin, the role of nutrition in a diabetic’s life, how to treat lows and highs, and so much more. The healthcare professionals that I met with were kind, patient, knowledgeable, and I knew they wanted what was best for me. Two years later my sister was diagnosed with a stage four tumor in her spinal cord. After her second surgery, she became paralyzed. She was at five different hospitals through her illness before going to Heaven eighteen months later. I was able to witness the impact all of the healthcare providers had on her life, as well as my whole family. A large part of my sister being sick was her motivation to learn to walk again so she could run, dance, drive me around, play volleyball, have fun with her friends, etc. Watching her with her physical therapists and occupational therapists had a major impact on me. I am going to become an occupational therapist in order to have a positive influence on people who may be going through a life changing event. I am a very empathetic person who genuinely wants the best for everyone I meet. I am motivated to help others and am an excellent listener when someone needs to talk, which I think is very important when in the health field. My ambition is to create beneficial, supportive relationships with my patients in order to help them achieve all of their goals in order to get back to their lives. I have a passion for becoming an occupational therapist and love working with other people. My drive is fueled by wanting to carry on my sister’s legacy by treating everyone the way she did - with kindness, genuine empathy, and being their biggest supporter. I will strive to be an occupational therapist that is an integral part of the care team that leaves an impression on all of her patients and their families.

Living as a type one diabetic is something I take very seriously as I have to think like a pancreas every second of the day in order to be in good health. I was diagnosed at age eleven and from the time we found out, my mom had me learn everything along with her to manage my diabetes. I was able to do my own blood sugar, figure out the carbs for a meal, and determine how much insulin to dose, as well as give myself shots. The experience I had when I was admitted to the hospital for three days had a huge impact on me. In addition to that, having appointments with an endocrinologist every three months and being an advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has taught me a lot about everyone having different needs and experiences with their diagnosis. I plan to be an occupational therapist in order to help people who have had a life altering event and are learning to adapt to major changes. I know as an occupational therapist I will work with people who have many different needs and experiences. I am confident that when I have a patient who is a diabetic, I will be able to offer support and knowledge that other health care professionals will not have the experience to do. In addition to type one diabetics, other patients who struggle from other chronic autoimmune conditions would have a cheerleader, one who celebrates with them, listens when they need to vent, and encourages at all times. No matter what the diagnosis, the level of empathy I have for others is one of my qualities I am most proud of. My sister was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumor when I was 13 and became paralyzed after her second surgery. She was inpatient for treatment, as well as inpatient rehabilitation. I was fortunate to be with her in the rehab gym at three different hospitals with a variety of therapists, as well as patients with other needs. Being in these settings is when I realized I have a strong desire and calling to be in the medical field helping others. When people have a chronic illness and have to make life changes, I will be a support and motivator, encouraging them every step of the way to learn to live with changes. My goal in life is to help others and have a positive influence in having a full life.

I lost my sister and best friend, Taylor, to cancer at age 16. This was a massive, tragic loss and has affected me in many ways. I looked up to her more than anyone else because she was all I wanted to be - kind, hilarious, fun, faith-filled, positive, determined, strong, hard working, active, compassionate, and so much more. Losing her was losing my best friend. I learned to cope with other people talking about their siblings and learning to deal with the huge hole in my heart. Not a day goes by where I am not thinking about her or telling others about her. My sister and mom went out of state for her second surgery that was supposed to take a week and ended up being over five months with her becoming paralyzed. This significantly affected my life as we were always together. I was used to being with them and having them to turn to for everything. Instead, I felt like I never knew what was going on and became very isolated. I was lonely, scared, and sad. I am a type one diabetic and managing that without my mom was a big adjustment. I developed a serious eating disorder that took over three years to overcome and I still struggle at times. I am stronger and more resilient because of witnessing all Taylor went through. I had to be as determined as she was to walk again and overcome all that came with her diagnosis in order to recover from my illness. I may not have achieved this without her as a role model. The trauma and grief I have had are immense and I am still working through things over three years since she went to Heaven. Taylor’s motto was ‘faith over fear’. She lived her life fearlessly and her determination was admirable. When I reflect on all she went through, I know my faith is stronger because of her. Cancer is horrible for anyone, but when it is your sister and you witness her going through treatment, it is unimaginable and absolutely terrifying. We created a foundation in her memory to help families going through what we did, as well as to fund innovative research for appropriate treatments. Through all of this, I have learned a lot about myself, cancer, and most importantly that Taylor will always be a part of me because of who I am due to her influence. I strive to make her proud and am blessed for having her for my first fourteen years. Experiencing losing my best friend and sister after watching her go through so much has had a huge impact on who I am today. Being a freshman in college is something she never got to do. I am going to be an occupational therapist because of Taylor and watching all that she was able to overcome due to the health care professionals in her life. I will strive to make her proud for the rest of my life and have a positive impact on everyone I meet in an effort to live like she did.

My sister was diagnosed with a tumor in her spinal cord that then spread to her brain when she was fifteen and I was thirteen. Watching my best friend go through having cancer, especially when it spread to her brain, was extremely terrifying and devastating. Watching her lose her ability to do things, and eventually lose her vision are traumatic events that I will never, ever be able to forget. I vividly remember how scared she was when she started to lose her vision and also how bad her headaches were. She would always ask me to brush her hair with a certain brush to try to make the headaches better. Although she was in pain and that was my small way of trying to help, those are special times I will always treasure because we had great talks, just the two of us. My perspective of brain cancer is very real. My sister was home full time the last five months of her life and I will do anything possible to spread awareness of brain cancer, especially pediatric cancer. My family created a foundation in her memory and we raise money for pediatric cancer research and to help local families with a child going through treatment. We have had this foundation for 3 years and each year our research money has gone to pediatric cancer research labs that are working on DIPG/DMG cancer. We fundraise the most in June with our big sand volleyball tournament and then also in September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. My sister became paralyzed after her second surgery and was inpatient for about seven months. She also attended outpatient therapy when she was not inpatient. I was with her for a lot of her physical and occupational therapy sessions and saw how important therapies were for her. I want to be able to help other kids who are faced with a cancer diagnosis so they are able to achieve and live their life, knowing I am going to help achieve and be their biggest supporter. My sister learned to walk again before things got worse and she went to Heaven and that is because of the expertise, care, and support of her therapists. I want to be an occupational therapist for this reason and am dedicated to helping others achieve their goals. Additionally, I will continue to be active in our foundation in her memory and help grow it and attend events to raise awareness so there can someday be a cure.

Cancer. The thing that everyone dreads. The thing I had always heard about, but never fully understood until it took the life of my best friend. My older sister, Taylor, was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumor as she entered her sophomore year of high school. After her first surgery, my parents took her for a second opinion and she had another surgery and became paralyzed from the waist down. A cancer diagnosis is terrifying, but watching your sister, your idol, and your best friend become paralyzed on top of a cancer diagnosis is brutal. It seemed like whenever we thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did with a bad scan, being limited with therapy and visitors due to COVID-19, spread to her brain, etc. However, through the diagnosis and all Taylor went through, I learned more than I could have imagined about ambition, drive, and impact as I had the absolute best role model you could ask for. Ambition is something that Taylor had an abundance of. She had this overwhelming desire to achieve more than what anyone thought possible. She insisted that she would walk and drive again, but my mom could see by the responses and facial expressions of doctors that not all of them believed that. She went to 3+ hours of therapy daily, requested extra sessions on the weekends, and did her own exercises in her room. I honestly have never witnessed someone want anything more than her wanting to use her legs again. She set goals for herself that she worked hard to achieve, giving maximum effort. Even with treatment, when she was tired and sick, her ambition never diminished. I admire the determination Taylor had when pushing towards the things that she wanted. She did walk with a walker and crutches before the cancer spread to her brain. I have never been more proud. Taylor’s drive was unbelievable regarding school. She participated in all of her classes without being discouraged, even while inpatient for several months. She maintained a 4.0 while teaching herself and going through treatment. Taylor’s drive and determination are what got her through two rounds of radiation, chemotherapy, and a drug trial in Michigan. I am inspired to push myself because she showed me what is possible to accomplish in a horrible situation. My sister made an impact on everyone that knew her. By being very friendly with positive energy and enthusiasm, she built strong relationships as though she wasn’t going through the hardest time in her life. She provided input regarding treatment and therapy. Most people would just do whatever they are told, but she would speak up if she didn’t agree with something. Even though Taylor’s life has come to an end, her story continues to make an impact. My mom and I created the Taylor Lech Foundation in her memory to raise money for pediatric cancer research and to help families with a cancer diagnosis. Taylor’s significant impact on others has inspired me to do the same by working to raise money through the foundation. My dream is to become an occupational therapist and help people get better. My ambition is to constantly learn and achieve to pursue my goals. I am determined to take in everything to become the best occupational therapist for my patients. Lastly, I will make sure I am not just any other therapist, but one that my patients feel comfortable with and will remember forever because of my impact. I am thankful for my sister, and all of the things that she and her cancer journey have taught me.