Dear Nicki Leach Foundation,

Hi! My name is Julia Janes, and I just turned seventeen. This birthday was an extra special one because last year, I wasn’t even sure if it would happen. I would like to share my story with you in addition to my reasons for how cancer changed my life. Cancer was always one of those things that I never thought would happen to me, at least until I was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma just two days after my sixteenth birthday. Like Nicki, I was a very busy and active teenage girl; I played the flute in the school band, made the varsity soccer team, wrote for the school’s yearbook, and volunteered in the community. Everything seemed to be going great, until one day; my life was changed by cancer.

I walked into that doctor’s office with a soccer injury that wouldn’t heal, and I walked out with disease that could end my life. I was a strong and determined athlete and scholar before cancer came into my life, but I had no idea how much strength it really takes to fight for your life.

As the saying goes, “You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have.” I took this saying to heart as I began my fight with cancer. I immediately felt the emotional stresses of dealing with such a serious diagnosis. I saw my family and friends in tears, and for the first time in my life, I worried about whether or not I would make it to my seventeenth birthday and senior year in high school, let alone college. I didn’t know the full extent of my situation until I had that first treatment, but once that chemo entered my body, I knew it would be a long and twisted roller coaster ride. Those next nine months of my life were jam packed with “barf buckets”, no hair days, and emotional ups and downs.

Meanwhile, my junior year in high school was quickly passing me by. Still, I wasn’t about to give up my education because of this setback. I was in no shape to go to school, but I used every last bit of energy that I had to keep my grades up and stay in the National Honor Society. Through all of the hard times, I managed to do just that. I surprised myself by getting back up every time I was knocked down, keeping all of my grades up, and preparing to graduate on time senior year. Between hospital stays, and even sometimes during hospital stays, I would work on my assignments, teaching myself the material along the way. Much of my independence and determination comes from this challenge that I was presented with during my fight with cancer.

My treatment was going as planned, but it took a turn for the worse half way through when I had to face my biggest fear, surgery. Before I was diagnosed, I would faint at the sight of a needle or blood. However, after chemo, I became quite the professional at being stuck with needles. Even though I was acclimated to hospitals, needles, and blood, I was still not up for being under anesthesia and being cut open. It was a very real possibility that I would lose my leg in this battle for my life. I was very lucky, however, because my cancerous tumor was removed, and it was declared one hundred percent dead. This news brought tears of joy to my eyes, but my battle was not even close to being finished.

The next chapter in my journey is one that I believe greatly changed my perspective on life. I had never before been so disabled for so long. For seven long months, both before and after the surgery, I was confined to my two crutches, and often in my weakened state, a wheelchair. I slowly but surely lost every bit of independence, mobility, and strength that I had. I had to rely on others for most of my needs, and this is when things changed. I developed a great appreciation for the ability to walk, run, exercise, and even do everyday things like cooking, dressing myself, and bathing. I began to realize that I used to take these things for granted. Then, I began physical therapy to build my strength up again after surgery. This was not a simple task, however, because seven months of non weight bearing can add up to a lot of muscle loss. Without my crutches, I could not take one single step. Between the chemotherapy that I still had to complete, and the physical therapy that never seemed to help, I was pretty discouraged. This is what made me a stronger person than I ever thought I could be. I was presented with a challenge that I was determined to conquer. After alternating six or three day chemotherapies in the hospital, I would have a two week break to work on my strength at physical therapy, while at the same time dealing with the harsh side effects of the treatment. Then I would have another treatment and repeat the process. After every treatment, I would be so weak that the physical therapy pretty much did nothing to help, and if it did, the progress would be lost after my next hospital stay two weeks later. I was discouraged, frustrated, and angry, but somehow I got through it. The chemo finally ended on April 19th, and it continues to be the happiest day of my life. Once the chemo was out of my system, I began seeing great progress at physical therapy. Now, a year after my diagnosis, I am walking unassisted, and gaining my independence back.

After all that I have been through, I am a changed person. Although my battle was tough and very much life-threatening, I know now that if I had to do it again, I would. If I hadn’t done everything that I did to beat my cancer, I would not be the strong, independent, and appreciative person I am today. For example, I am participating in the Cure Search walk for children’s oncology for the second year in a row. This year I am a top fundraiser for the entire organization. Also, I used my experiences with cancer to deliver the opening speech at my community’s Relay for Life. I will also continue to volunteer at the Keyser Clinic at Hope hospital, to pay it forward to those who helped me and to those whose lives have been touched by cancer. On an everyday basis, I have changed because I appreciate the things that most people take for granted such as eating, bathing, and overall health.

I would use my gift from Nicki towards my dream of going to college. As I had mentioned earlier, one of the first things that came to my mind after diagnosis was that I wanted to make it to college. After everything that I have overcome, it is my wish to live my life to the fullest, and experience what it would be like to live on a college campus, to earn a higher education, and to eventually make a career out of helping children in any way that I can. I believe that the privilege of going to college is a perfect way to continue enjoying the life that I have. My career goal is to become a teacher and work with young children, especially in a hospital setting. This gift from the Nicki Leach Foundation will allow me to help people in the ways that I was helped during my fight with cancer.

Sincerely,

Julia Janes