Round Two- Before and During

Being declared cancer free in July of 2010, you can imagine my excitement as I thought, "I still have my whole life ahead of me!" :) It was the summer before my Junior year. And let me tell you just how great Junior year was:

• I ran Cross Country- went from a 27 min PR to 21 min PR- I received the award for Most Improved
• I loved XC! It was when I first realized my love for running
• I was the Junior Class President and I loved it! The biggest responsibility was the Junior Prom- and it was a huge job! But it was so worth it (If you're reading this Mrs. Seegmiller- you're the bomb!)
• I ran for Student Body Vice-President for senior year- I did a skit in front of the entire school
• Junior year was my favorite year of high school thus far!

Senior year was just as fun too! Being a Student Body Officer required a lot of work but it was one of the highlights of the year. We planned assemblies, held fundraisers, and made the school year a lot of fun. And I ran Cross Country again- it was great. I even lettered! I had always wanted to try out for a musical, so I decided to go for it and got the role of Hugo Peabody in "Bye Bye Birdie." And let me tell you, playing a lovesick half drunk teenager was a blast! :)

In January, we discovered a lump right by my Adam's Apple. We had a biopsy on the lump and found out that it was the same kind of cancer. I was transferred up to the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City. That place is one of the best places in the world to receive treatment for cancer.

In March, I had a surgery a lot like my 16th birthday surgery. The doctors cut open over my last scar, so there wasn't another scar on my neck. But the surgery went well, and after two nights I was able to go home. The BEST surprise from that surgery was a poster that said "Welcome Home!" sign at my house, from my friends in Student Government (thank you again!!). Along with the sign, there was a Christmas tree with a bunch of notes tied to the branches. While I was out of school, they had gone around to classrooms and had peers write little notes of encouragement. There were probably at least a hundred. So, to those at Cedar High who wrote me a note, THANK YOU. It really made my day! :)
 
After being out of school for a week and a half, I was able to go back and continue the rest of my senior year! The doctors felt confident that they had gotten all the cancer out, and I went on with life.

So my advice: Don't let cancer take over your life. And for most of you who will never have cancer, don't let circumstances take over your life. Be yourself, and do what YOU want to do.

Before I end, I couldn't write about the things I've been through and not mention my family. They have been so supportive through EVERYTHING! From being there for me, to just talking to me, I have them to thank. Dad, Mom, Brooke, Tim, Chris, Allie, Ashley, Hayden, Justin, and even Camden- a public thank you is in order:

Keep running!