My name is Emily and I am a stage four cancer survivor.  At just 18 months old, after a bloated stomach and the inability to go to the bathroom, doctors decided an emergency ultrasound was necessary and my tumor was discovered.  My endodermal sinus tumor was attacked by three chemotherapy drugs as well as surgery.

I am happy to share that I have been in remission since; however, this time still is not void of medical challenges. At the age of 16, a mass was discovered in my fallopian tube. The mass was likely because of a cut doctors made when removing my tumor in 1995. To get rid of the mass, doctors re-opened my abdominal scar and removed the tube and ovary.  With infertility being a side effect of chemotherapy, at age 23, while working on my master’s degree in education, I decided to freeze my eggs.

Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of being supported by programs created and supported by the American Cancer Society.  As a child, I was an attendee of Courageous Kids.   When I attended college, I was a scholarship recipient through ACS’s Young Cancer Survivor Scholarship Fund.  I was also extremely involved in Colleges Against Cancer, an ACS program designed by and administered by college students from across the country dedicated to eliminating cancer by initiating and supporting programs of the American Cancer Society in college communities.

I am now a high school educator in Boise, Idaho.  As an educator, I try my best to create an environment and community where students feel supported to be the most authentic version of themselves.  I believe I can do this because I have experienced supportive communities, including those created by the American Cancer Society.  I am eager to continue to connect with others and share my story.