Meet Liliana: 2023 Scholar

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.

Liliana’s Story

Liliana, a native of Lees Summit, Missouri, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma when she was 14 years old.

“When most kids are worried about the everyday gossip with relationships, high school, and even puberty, I was shadowed with the thoughts of if I’ll even live to see another day,” she remembers. “Although I felt defeated, I had an army of support standing behind me, holding my hand to assure me that I was winning, that I was giving it my all.”

Her army of supporters included an aunt who found her the perfect wig after she lost her hair during treatment. Today, Liliana encourages her peers to donate hair to the same charity that helped her feel more body-positive during treatment. It’s one of the many cancer charities she volunteers for to give back.

She’s planning to study psychology at the University of Kansas to one day become a child therapist and help other kids through challenging circumstances.

Liliana’s Advocacy Project

“Not a lot of people know this but, while you’re getting inpatient treatments in the hospital, you need to shower or take a bath every day to avoid getting any infections. For me, it felt so good to get out of the bath or shower and have a new pair of pajamas,” Liliana told us.

Because she understands how much difference these small comforts can bring, she started her own charity that provides pajamas, blankets, and socks to kids in the hospital.

“Kids should feel at home, especially in a place that holds so much trauma,” she says. “I was always lucky to have not only the comfort of friends and family but the comfort of a silk pj set and fluffy socks, which others deserve to feel too.”