September 11, 2007, at the age of 15, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. The tumor was just above my right knee. I went through several months of treatment before I had limb-saving surgery, which required the lower half of my femur and my knee to be replaced with titanium. More chemotherapy followed my surgery.

I met many other teens and kids that I am still friends with today during treatment and weekly visits to the Aflac Cancer Center. I attended Camp Sunshine and met many more people with the exact same thing I have. I enjoy going back to the Aflac Cancer Center for check-ups because I get to visit friends and see my doctors (my favorite is Dr. George). I feel really connected to the Aflac Cancer Center.

For fun I like to play guitar, go to youth group/Bible Study, listen to music, visit kids in the hospital, hang out with my friends, and do things to help people. I used to play several different sports such as basketball, track and cross country. I was named “Rookie of the Year” for my varsity track team as a freshman. Ironically, I’m really good at the hurdles. In a way, I believe I was mentally becoming prepared for a really huge hurdle, because that same year (summer ’07) I began experiencing pain in my knee, which eventually led to my diagnosis.

I am thankful for the positive things that I have become more aware of due to my illness. It has made me a better person. I learned how to truly love; I learned to look through appearances and into the heart. I no longer take things for granted like my health, my friends, and my family. I find myself “stopping and smelling the roses” way more often; slowing my pace, taking every moment in and truly embracing it because you never know when that moment will end. My family is now closer, stronger, and happier. It is for these things that I am glad I had cancer. I would never ever wish this horrible disease on anyone, but I do wish they could experience the wonderful things that do come from it.