Meet 2021 Scholar Kirstie

Our College Scholars receive a financial scholarship to help with academic expenses, and each scholar commits to undertaking a volunteer project of their choosing related to childhood cancer advocacy, with support and mentorship from the Children's Cancer Cause team.

Kirstie’s Story

Kirstie, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma when she was 18 years old.

“I had just graduated high school and was excited to start college. I felt the stereotypical young adult invincibility,” says Kirstie, recalling the morning that she woke up with a swollen lymph node. “After seeing many doctors, having several CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds, and being reassured that my inflamed lymph node was benign and would recede with antibiotics, I awoke from an excisional biopsy. The surgeon, with a tear in her eye, told me my lymph nodes were cancerous: I had lymphoma.”

Kirstie was most upset that she wouldn’t be starting college in the fall. “I remember crying that night as I shared the news with the rest of my family. I told my elderly grandparents that they would have to hold on for a bit longer because I was going to take longer than expected to finish school and I wanted them at my graduation.”

She recalls that next few weeks as a blur of doctors’ visits and tests, as her doctors worked out a treatment plan.

“Every day, more questions popped up, more fear tore at my heart, and more worry played with my mind.”

Kirstie saw her cancer diagnosis as a new beginning and maintained a positive outlook throughout her treatment. She completed two online courses while undergoing treatment and went on to excel in her undergrad career after being declared cancer-free.

“I plan on becoming a pediatric hematologist/oncologist myself, inspired by my care team and my journey. I want to help other kids overcome their cancer diagnoses with a positive outlook on life,” says Kirstie.

“Waking up every day is a gift, whether I feel good or bad, and I am so grateful for the people in my life.”

Kirstie’s Advocacy Project

Kirstie started a medical blog during her cancer treatment, as a way of sharing her experiences and inspiring others in a similar situation.

“When I was diagnosed, all my doctors could tell me about what to expect for the next few months was that everyone is different and there is no way to know how I would react to the treatment plan,” she recalls. “I asked my doctors to teach me about procedures and I researched the drugs I was receiving so I could share my new medical knowledge and help educate other patients who might be in a similar situation.”

For her College Scholars project, Kirstie revived and updated a blog that she started during treatment. You can read her posts here.

“The more people I can reach, the more people I can hopefully comfort in letting them know they are not alone on this journey.”

December 2021 Update: Kirstie is keeping busy at medical school! She was elected chair of the Hematology/Oncology medical student organization, which has provided her with another way to answer questions and coordinate community events for cancer education.

“I really can’t thank the College Scholars Program enough! I am living my dream and feeling closer and closer to helping my own cancer patients one day,” says Kirstie.

December 2023 Update: Kirstie is on track to graduate from medical school in May of 2025 and still plans to become a pediatric oncologist.