2008-2009 BTC Scholarship Recipients
Kelly Foy said she found out she had leukemia at the ripe old age of seven. The Connecticut teenager survived not one but two battles with cancer and will start college this fall. Her goal is to become a child life specialist so she can pass on her message to children who are fighting for their lives. Kelly is one of ten college students from across the United States awarded scholarships from The National Children’s Cancer Society as part of its new Beyond the Cure College Scholarship Program for Childhood Cancer Survivors.
Mark Stolze, N.C.C.S. President and CEO, said these ten students personify the strength, the courage and the hopefulness of the human spirit by overcoming the difficult challenges of childhood cancer. “These young people are living proof there is life after cancer treatment. We are honored to assist them during the next phase of their lives as they prepare for their careers.”
The scholarship recipients are Kelly Foy of Berlin, Connecticut, Ashley Fancher of Palmyra, Indiana, Ashley Dobbs of Gallatin, Tennessee, Heather Barger of Cedar City, Utah, Codi Cabrera of Morgantown, West Virginia, Lauren Tharp of Athens, Georgia, Kelsy Thrasher of Mooresville, North Carolina, Keith Hetrick of Manassas, Virginia, Julie Friedberg of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, and Christiana White of Nashville, Tennessee.
The Beyond the Cure College Scholarship Program awards scholarships for childhood cancer survivors with stipends of up to $5,000 per academic year. Currently, there are more than 270,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States and by the year 2010, one out of every 250 young adults will be cancer survivors. With the growing population of childhood cancer survivors, there is an increased awareness of the life-long impact of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. In order to meet the specific needs of the survivorship community, The National Children’s Cancer Society developed the Beyond the Cure program to educate survivors and their families about survivorship issues and to celebrate survivorship.
Having had cancer has given me confidence and strength in my
life. I know that I am strong because I fought one of the toughest
battles there is and I won... My goal when I become a child life
specialist is to pass on my message to children who are fighting
for their lives. I want to help them as I was helped. One of the
main things I want to tell them is that cancer is not forever. There
may be side effects that will stay with you for your life, but you
are bigger than them. It is who you are and the way you hold
yourself that is forever. ”
I feel that I was given a second chance at life and I want to
respect that and do all I can. I want to be a medical missionary
and assist in rebuilding third world countries... My cancer
experience changed my whole life for the better. I am a more
enhanced person because of the trials and tribulations that I had
to overcome at such a young age. ”
I realize now that I will never be the typical teenage girl again, and
I thank God for that every day. I’m a stronger person. I’m more
determined. I never take life for granted. Most of all, I see the
suffering of others around me and I want to use my experiences to
help them through difficulties. I plan to major in Sociology in
college and go on to be a hospital social worker. I want to run a
program for adolescents in children’s hospitals. ”
Being optimistic when going through a hard time in everyday life
is essential. My trial taught me to be a happy person, to always
smile, and to try to make others smile. Laughter, after all, is the best
medicine. ”
Being told you have cancer isn't something you can prepare
yourself for and when you hear the words, you are hit with all
kinds of emotions and there are many tears shed... Faith will help
you tell yourself that you are going to make it and that everything
will be fine. ”
I want to become a doctor so that I can help children and adults
who are ill strive for what they have always wanted despite whatever
illness they may have. My struggle with cancer has allowed me to
appreciate my health in a way I never otherwise would have. It has
also made me realize that doctors who are understanding,
knowledgeable, professional, and compassionate can make such a
difference in the way a patient is dealing with his or her illness. I
aspire to be a doctor so I can make as great an impact on my
patients as my doctor has made on me. ”
Through my ordeal I have gained an appreciation for life, and all
that it has to offer. I now realize that everything is a gift from God,
and nothing should be taken for granted. Through my suffering, I
have attained a desire to succeed, to be the best, and I am a much
better person than I ever was before. I am, and will always be, the
person who tries the hardest to achieve goals, and I will never give
up. ”
I have felt every emotion from sadness to anger while asking
myself “Why me?”... Being upset about my reality is not going to
change anything... It is a monumental journey that shouldn’t get in
the way of future plans. Enjoy those days when you feel well and
accept that there will be days when you will need to rest. While
cancer is a significant part of your life, it should not be the sole
determinant of your future. ”
As far as the future, I have to say I see it through the eyes of a
survivor. I am stronger, more determined than ever, and truly
believe that I have the ability and potential to have a positive
impact as an adult motivated to be an advocate. I have hope and
optimism for a future and my philosophy is ’Live, laugh, love’
because life is just too short! ”
I think my view of myself as a person, and as a woman, has been
changed by having cancer... I have come to see the scar on my
stomach and the one left by my portacath as things to be proud of.
They tell the world that I have overcome something that thousands
of others have not. I am proud of my scars, and I am more accepting
of my body because of them. Because of my scars I know that it is
all right to be imperfect, which is a very important piece of
knowledge to possess in this society. ”
