NOTICE: Due to the overwhelming need to support our growing number of families we must regretfully suspend our Scholarship Program at least for 2025. We are hoping to bring back this opportunity next year if possible.
2024 Recipients
Jillian Sayre
Looking back on my journey, I will always remember the hard times, and the people that were there for me. My parents had been by my side always but I never expected the support and friendship from so many others. I will always remember my first-grade field trip where I was not feeling well and the support I received from another child my age. That child has been there to this day, and despite moving away, has remained my best friend and supporter through the difficult times. Having a close friend, like I had with my best friend Ayse was so important, and made me realize the true meaning of friendship.
Beyond friends and family, I have been introduced to some organizations which have been a blessing to me and my family, and have truly shaped who I am today. One organization that we became immediately involved with was the Kisses for Kyle Foundation. They allowed me and my family to get to know other families and fighters going through similar battles. Kisses for Kyle also provided numerous activities and support as I battled my diagnosis of Medulloblastoma multiple times. Having been involved with Kisses for Kyle all these years has really been such a blessing to have people by my side even from that first diagnosis in 2013 to now about to graduate high school in a few months. I truly appreciate all the kindness and support they have brought me and my family, and look forward to the point where we can just focus on giving back.
One yearly experience that I will forever be grateful for is the Kisses for Kyle Weekend in Ocean City, NJ. This experience allowed my family and I to have some fun and form great relationships, and has helped me form a path to guide others going through a similar diagnosis. I learned the impact I have on other children and what I feel I’m being called to do in the future. These weekends were a chance for my family to relax and have fun, and as I got older, a chance to connect with other warriors and families that were going through a similar experience. I was able to pass along my mantra to others of being “Be-you-tiful”, and not being afraid of showing your true, beautiful inner self to others. I will forever remember these experiences that Kisses for Kyle provided me and my fellow warriors.
My journey has helped me to mature in a way that is different from many others. I was able to be a role model for not only cancer fighters younger than myself but also for my peers and my younger sister. This has made me change as an individual by being able to show perseverance, look at life through a positive mindset, and convincing myself that I can and will overcome the next obstacle life throws my way. Having been through this for so long I have met so many new faces who are also starting out their own journey and seeing this made me realize that I owe it to myself to try and give back as much as I could to all who had helped me. This experience has helped me to plan my future in a way I would not have known. I found what I was destined to do, what would help me give back to my supporters, and that is simply to turn around and help them in return. To work in a field alongside frontline workers and miracle workers to help be an aid or a positive vibe in a place that is full of negativity. I hope to make children’s days brighter while they’re in the hospital and plan to make this happen by becoming a Child Life Specialist.
This is but a brief excerpt of my life since 2013 but I can’t help but close with an important message, that was so important to me in the beginning, and that is the importance of always being a “friend to a fighter."
Kiara Rollins
As a recipient of the kindness and generosity of the Kisses for Kyle Foundation, I can personally attest to the profound impact of their support on families navigating the challenging journey of childhood cancer. In 2020 and 2021, while undergoing treatment for leukemia at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, I experienced firsthand the warmth and compassion of the Foundation's initiatives. During my hospitalizations, amidst the daunting reality of chemotherapy and relentless symptoms, the thoughtful Christmas gifts provided by the Foundation served as beacons of joy and hope during an otherwise difficult time.
My journey with cancer began in 2020 when, at the age of 19, I received a devastating diagnosis of leukemia. At the time, I was embarking on my second year at the Community College of Philadelphia, pursuing a degree in healthcare studies. However, my aspirations were abruptly put on hold as I embarked on a grueling 18-month battle against the disease. My life became consumed by rounds of chemotherapy, countless hospital visits, and the harsh side effects of the medications required to sustain my fight for survival.
Despite the immense challenges I faced, I remained determined to persevere. Towards the end of my treatment journey, amidst the chaos of hospital stays and medical procedures, I achieved a significant milestone—I graduated from the Community College of Philadelphia with an associate's degree in healthcare studies. Additionally, I obtained certification as a nursing assistant, driven by a deep-seated desire to contribute meaningfully to the field of healthcare.
As of August 2022, I am grateful to be in remission, but my journey is far from over. Fueled by my own experiences and the unwavering support of organizations like the Kisses for Kyle Foundation, I am more determined than ever to pursue my passion for nursing. Inspired by the compassionate care I received during my battle with cancer, I am committed to giving back by specializing in pediatric oncology nursing. It is my fervent belief that every child battling cancer deserves the same level of care and support that I was fortunate enough to receive.
The Kisses for Kyle Foundation has played an integral role in my journey towards recovery and renewal. Their dedication to providing comprehensive support to families facing childhood cancer has not only eased the burdens of countless individuals but has also served as a source of inspiration and hope. As I embark on the next chapter of my life, I am deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Foundation, which has empowered me to pursue my dreams and make a difference in the lives of others. With their continued support, I am confident that I will fulfill my aspirations of becoming a pediatric oncology nurse, providing comfort and care to children and families battling cancer, just as the Foundation has done for me
2023 Recipients
Morgan Hewitt
My name is Morgan Hewitt, and I am a North Hunterdon High School senior. I am also a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, friend, and cancer survivor. I am a typical teenager who just happens to have an intimate knowledge of pediatric cancer and what it takes to survive. During my cancer journey, I was exposed to numerous medical professionals. After considerable study, it is my wish to further my education by becoming a pediatric oncology nurse. Becoming a pediatric oncology nurse is not just a job or a career, it is my calling in life.
Once my cancer went into remission, I didn't delay getting started on my career path. Not knowing exactly how long I may have, could be years, but I want to be able to spend the rest of my time helping kids in the same state I was in. During my junior year, I started my dual enrollment with Raritan Valley Community College. I passed Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 on my own. Now I am currently in my senior year taking Medical Terminology and Pathophysiology. I also am CPR certified. These courses will allow me to begin college with credits that advance me on my career path.
There are many ways to contribute to the nursing field. I will be able to establish an important connection with the kids based on personal experience. Being able and willing to offer a warm bedside manner is very important in a hospital setting. The children need to feel comfortable with the person caring for them. They need someone who can understand the pain they are in and the fear they have. Based on my own experience, I will be able to show compassion, provide exceptional care and advocate for them.
This scholarship will benefit me not only now but also in the future. It will enable me to pursue my dream by allowing me to enroll and take classes once I graduate high school. There will be no delay in moving forward. Also, it will relieve some of the stress of having financial bills later when I graduate college. Also knowing the expense of medical bills each month, this scholarship can help me and my parents with ongoing bills.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read this essay and considering my request for this scholarship.
Kevin Hu
Only 800 out of the 43 million American teenagers are diagnosed with lymphoma each year. With the capability to win these odds I should have just bought a lottery ticket.
My win of misfortune began when I had noticed I was suffocating during swim practice, a sport where you are meant to hold your breath. After many visits, and a misdiagnosis of asthma, I finally tossed aside the useless inhaler that I abused to no avail during swim competitions, hoping for a solution to my problem. But somehow I had found myself in the ER waiting for my parents who were pulled out to talk to doctors. At 12 years old I was keen on the troubling turn of events. With my phone dead, I tried to pick up my mom’s phone to distract myself. But the first thing I saw was an article about cancer. My brain struggled to connect the two dots as something so foreign and harmful existing in my life had never even crossed my mind yet it was from then that my journey began.
Perhaps it was because I was a loud child and the class clown, separate from my other shy classmates. I think a little differently than most. While cancer, disease, death instill such a negative atmosphere I somehow became my own class clown, entertaining myself in a seemingly hopeless situation.
To me, I had mostly never thought about death. Each day was its own individual battle with sleep being my painless escape. Even with my first encounter with true death I still never thought about dying. My throat closed in on itself after fighting a high fever at an ANC of 0 for 3 weeks. After struggling to breathe and gasping for air, I finally blacked out amongst the crowd of nurses surrounding me. Waking up, I was strapped to a breathing machine with plenty of time to reflect and cope with this traumatic experience. So I gathered my energy and opened my phone to… record myself pretending to be Darth Vader using the CPAP mask.
My resilience isn’t a matter of transforming myself or overcoming obstacles. Not everything I encounter can be changed. Drowning in a whirlpool of helplessness from strict treatment regimens and symptomatic projectile vomiting, I focus on the only thing that I can control: my attitude or ability to find joy in any scenario. Cancer tests the limits of self esteem, image, and mental prowess. I learned to adapt to cancer by incorporating humor into every battle. My dysmorphic port scar looked like another nipple so I pretended it was my third nipple to make myself laugh. When 3 stubborn strands of hair never fell out, I would sarcastically tell my parents how I had so much hair. When my arms swelled after a severe blood clot, I posed like Popeye the sailor man.
Cancer may have used up all my luck to win a lottery but I never felt like I truly lost.
Nicholas Matyas
Swimming gave me something to live for. In 2018, I was swimming my fastest all the while dealing with extreme weight loss and a relentless cough that made swimming difficult at times.
I admit I knew something was wrong with me. I had been cyber-sleuthing for weeks but I wasn’t prepared when the doctor told me I had cancer. After the initial shock wore off, I had three questions: “Can you fix me?”, “Can my family still go to Disney World tomorrow?”, and “Can I still swim?”.
The doctors assured me that I could still swim but that I might not feel up to it. What? Not feel up to it. Not swimming, even if I didn’t feel well, never even occurred to me.
Throughout my treatment and now into remission, I continued to swim. At first it was hard, I couldn’t swim as far and as fast as I used to, but I still went to practice and still swam in meets. Every time I got in the water, I was thankful that I could even swim and regardless of the outcome I knew I was a winner. To me it wasn’t just about times, I vowed not to let the cancer rob me of something I loved. By junior year of high school, my performance was starting to get back on track. I was a co-captain for my high school swim team, awarded MVP both my junior and senior years, and I was named to the 2022 Ocean Conference Second Team for the 100 freestyle.
When I was looking at colleges, I wanted to go someplace that had a college club swim team. WVU had a direct admit nursing program, club swim team, and it was my mom’s alma mater, so WVU was a lock. I joined the club team, and it has been the best experience of my life. I made amazing friends, traveled all over the country to compete, and I qualified for College Club Swim Nationals in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle.
Five years ago, I was sitting in a chemo chair not sure what the future would hold and today I’m competing at the top of my sport in good health and good spirits. Qualifying for Nationals is an accomplishment for any swimmer, but as a childhood cancer survivor it means I didn’t let the cancer win. I finished in the top 80 swimmers for both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle and my 200 Freestyle Relay finished 17th in the country. I am a nationally ranked swimmer!
Swimming kept me going and I don’t know if I would be the same person I am today if I had stopped. I’m a survivor and I hope that my story encourages and inspires other childhood cancer survivors to never let their diagnosis get in the way of doing what they love. Be it a sport, hobby, or just watching TV, having cancer is just a chapter of your life, it isn’t the whole book.
2022 Recipients
Tori Herrschaft
2022 Scholarship Recipient of a 1 year, up to $5,000 Scholarship - Congratulations Tori Herschaft!
Many thanks to Two or More Family Foundation & Joseph Alexander Foundation for their generous sponsorships!
Thirteen years ago on November 16, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Typically a child’s diagnosis date is when the entire family’s world gets turned upside down and inside out. For my family, that day was three days prior when I was taken to my pediatrician because my mom was concerned about my paleness, backache, fatigue, vomiting, and weakness. When my doctor walked into the room she instantly knew something was not right. During the appointment, my doctor assured my mom that she was not leaving until all my tests came back. Later that night my mom got a call, she was told to take me to St. Christophers Hospital or CHOP immediately. Additionally, She was warned not to let me fall down, bump into anything, or get scratched because I could bleed out. When my dad came home from work, we ate dinner as a family, and then we went to St. Chris’ emergency room. On November 13, 2009, seven-year-old Victoria Haley Herrschaft was admitted into the Oncology Unit pending a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
My treatment continued for two years, I don’t remember much of it but the things I do remember make me smile. Even though I had cancer, I was still a kid. I played outside with the other kids on my street, rode my bike, went to water parks, and had sleepovers. I also attended Camp Can Do for nine years. Through camp, I made friends with the counselors, nurses, and campers. One of my current best friends was also a camper. Olivia Haff was my first friend at camp and now twelve years later we are still very close. When I was in the hospital, my friends from school would write me letters and my best friend Logan would visit. I remember one time, we put an empty puke bucket at the end of the hallway and had one filled with water in my room. The two of us filled syringes with the water to squirt it into the empty bucket that was in the hallway. We wanted to see how many syringes it would take to fill the bucket. At night, I would sit at the nurse's station and talk to them until I was tired. They’d give me the medical dictionary and tell me to look up certain words, once I found the words I would read the definition...I was eight.
As a child with cancer, you spend a lot of time around other kids with cancer. The sad truth is that not all of them get the luck of surviving cancer. Through kisses for kyle, I met Shayla Garrett. Shayla and I were inseparable and every moment with her felt like the best day ever. We went to the beach, we swam at her swim club, we did science experiments, we played with American Girl dolls, and so much more. The one thing we never got was a sleepover. We planned one but it was the same day she found out her cancer came back. Through radiation they got one of the tumors to go away and we had a dance party. However, at that dance party, she told me that the tumor on her neck was going to invade her trachea and leave her unable to breathe… thus causing her death. At seven years old, she told me about the grim future she had with a smile on her face and it is a memory that will never fade. She passed away on November 12, 2012, and I miss her every day.
Now here I am, twenty years old, a decade cancer-free, and trying to navigate the challenge of “adulting”. My college career started off in September of 2020 at the Community College of Philadelphia where I did one part-time semester and one full-time semester. Although, halfway through my first semester I knew I needed to change schools. CCP was not challenging enough and I needed to feel like I was learning. I knew I wanted to go to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. After going through the work to apply, I was accepted in May of 2021 as a Biology/pre-med major. Four months later I moved into my dorm and every day after I loved it. I knew I had chosen the right place to call home. Later on, I joined “HOWLs” which is Husky Orientation and Workshop Leaders and Alpha Phi Omega which is a community service frat. Midway through the spring semester, I changed my major to Health Sciences/Pre-accelerated Nursing.
My goal is to be a pediatric oncology nurse. Specifically, one like I had the first night I was in the hospital. I strive to be the kind of nurse that will read a book to my patient on their first night to relax them and make them feel more at home. I want to be the kind of nurse that can make my patients laugh and smile even when things are at their hardest. As a kid that had cancer, I can relate to the patients on a personal level. Their parents/caregivers may be less scared knowing that hearing the words “your child has cancer” isn’t always a death sentence. I want to take all of my experiences and use them for something good.
Corin Stewart
Many thanks to Live Like Lucy & in loving memory of Chase Olsen for their generous sponsorships!
2022 Scholarship Recipient of a 1 year, up to $5,000 Scholarship - Congratulations Corin Stewart!
Factors that motivate me to pursue a career in which I will help children who are facing a cancer diagnosis are the cancer diagnosis, time length of hospitalization, not being alone, helping patients regain a sense of normalcy, maintain emotions, and improving chances of a positive outcome. A patient who is old enough to understand should be explained the type of cancer he or she has been diagnosed with and what will continue to happen in the future. The patient should feel as comfortable as possible while they are in the hospital. Fighting off cancer can be a difficult time. Having family and friends around you can make you feel better because you know that they will stay by your side no matter what. Patients deserve to regain a sense of normalcy so they can remember what it is like to feel alive. Maintaining emotions can help you feel better physically and mentally. Not being able to control your emotions can make you feel worse than you already do. When you think positively, it will give your confidence a boost and it will help you think of more positive outcomes instead of negative. As a cancer survivor, my career goal is to help children who also have cancer. For my career, I would like to become a child life specialist. They help children and families go through the process of illness, injury, disability, trauma, or hospitalization. Their role is to help children cope with anxiety, fear, separation, and adjustment. They also provide art, music, and pet therapy. Addressing your concerns, telling you what to expect, and organizing activities is also part of their job including them creating a therapeutic and medical plan. I hope to make an impact on children who are facing cancer by being by their side. I want them to know that fighting off cancer is worth it because they deserve to live their life. I would like to see a smile appear on their face because it won't just make me happy, it will make their parents happy too. I know what it is like to go through an experience like this and I want to be able to help children who are going through the same thing.
Nicholas Matyas
Many thanks to the Morris Family with Sharing Hope Dinner Dance for their generous sponsorship!
2022 Scholarship Recipient of a 1 year, up to $5,000 Scholarship - Congratulations Nicholas Matyas!
When you are thirteen and diagnosed with cancer, the future is not guaranteed. Leading up to my diagnosis I was just a regular kid, going to school, hanging out with friends, swimming on my swim team but I knew something was wrong. I had been losing weight and I had a cough I couldn’t get rid of. I started researching my symptoms on the internet and had come up with several different diagnosis, but I never expected to hear the words “You have cancer”. Those three words changed my life forever. One day I was competing in a championship swim meet and two days later I was diagnosed with cancer.
I admit I was scared but I was being treated at CHOP and even at thirteen I knew I was getting the best care possible. Although my future was uncertain, I saw myself drawn to the medical field. At first, I thought that I wanted to be a doctor, but I was swayed towards nursing after an overnight hospital stay. At the end of my first round of chemo, I developed cellulitis and was admitted overnight. It was during that stay, that I met the only male nurse I would encounter during my entire course of treatment. His name was Adam and meeting him was a game changer.
I loved all my female nurses, but I was able to connect with Adam on a deeper level because we were both guys. We talked about sports, movies, girls, and just overall guy stuff. He became my inspiration for wanting to become a nurse. My whole world had been flipped upside down and he talked to me like a regular kid, not the kid with cancer. His demeanor was reassuring, and his presence was calming. I felt such a connection with him that I decided I wanted to give back the positivity and encouragement he gave to me to other kids, especially young men, who are going through cancer treatment. I understand the importance of the nurse/patient connection and it goes beyond shots and medications. My nurses have left a lasting impression on me, Adam especially, and I want to have that effect on someone else. I want to help sick children take their mind off their circumstances and give them a chance to feel like a kid, even if it’s only for a little while.
It is my hope that my personal experience with childhood cancer and my male perspective will put me in a position to connect with patients and their families much like Adam did for me. My cancer has forever changed me as a person, it will always be a chapter in my life, but it is not the whole book. I want to turn that dark time of my life into a beacon of light and shine it bright onto the world of pediatric oncology nursing.
2021 Recipients
Shane Boyle
2021 Scholarship Recipient Of A 1 Year, Up To $5,000 Scholarship Congratulations Shane and Carlos, two years in a row!
Many thanks to Morris Family with Sharing Hope Dinner Dance for their generous sponsorship!
"In November 2013, at the age of 11, I began having headaches, nausea and blurred vision. I was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and diagnosed with two malignant brain tumors. Being diagnosed with cancer at such a young age, I understand all too well what it is like to face a life threatening illness. My experience has made me very empathetic to those facing illness and disease. I have found strengths in all the challenges I have faced and my experience has taught me resiliency and compassion.
I want to make an impact in the lives of children facing cancer by helping them have a fighting chance. I can understand what they are going through physically and emotionally and can provide them with a sense of comfort. I feel I can make a connection with children facing cancer by providing them with the utmost care, empathy, compassion and helping them cope.
My dream job was to become a math teacher. I loved math and excelled in the subject. After seeing how my nurses helped me and how grateful I was for the care they gave me, it made me realize how rewarding the job of a pediatric nurse would be. That was when my dream of becoming a math teacher changed. I realized becoming a pediatric nurse was my destiny. Going through my own experience with cancer, I realized how many children are affected by cancer. The experience makes you want to support others because you know what it is like to be on the other side. My perception of life has changed and I never take anything for granted. Even though I had cancer, I do not let it define me or deter me from my goals. Life can continue after cancer and you can do anything you set your mind to.
Six years ago I faced the unimaginable, but in 4 months I will enter college to pursue a Bachelor in Nursing degree. Upon graduation, I want to obtain a full time job and specialize in pediatric oncology. In time, I hope to continue my education by obtaining a Master's degree."
Carlos Pena Jimenez
Many thanks to Greiner Family Foundation and the Joseph Alexander Foundation their generous sponsorship!
"When I was just 12 years old, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in my right knee. It came as a surprise for me because at that time I didn't know something like that was even possible, let alone that it will ever happen to me. I thought I just broke my leg because the pain started during baseball practice.But things were far more complicated than I ever thought. For over 2 weeks I was not clear what was going on. I was in bed at the hospital for 2 weeks to have many surgeries. It was a life changing experience. I was losing my mind and just wanted it to be over. There were also life problems that came that way, where we were kicked out of our apartment and needed to rely on state assistance to find a place to live. They moved us to a nearby hotel that helps with homeless families. 4 years later, I will again be diagnosed with osteosarcoma in my left femur.
There were a lot of things that motivated me through the difficult time. I didn't have much hope for my future. I wanted to keep living because there is so much that I still wanted to do and achieve. My life has been slowed down, but I am not willing to stop now. I want to spend time with my friends and family and visit places that I have never been before.
If there is a way that I hope to motivate others that are going through the same that I am going through, I want to be there for them for any need and any type of support required. I want to let them know that there are people that care about them that are willing to help them just to see them happy.
There have been a lot of challenges that I have to deal with over my time with cancer. My goal and dream is to keep moving through even in the most difficult time. But no matter the situation, there is hope for everyone to deal with cancer."
2020 Recipients
Carlos Pena Jimenez
2020 Scholarship Recipient Of A 1 Year, Up To $5,000 Scholarship - thank you to Univest for their generous sponsorship!
"When I was just 12 years old, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in my right knee. It came as a surprise for me because at that time I didn't know something like that was even possible, let alone that it will ever happen to me. I thought I just broke my leg because the pain started during baseball practice.But things were far more complicated than I ever thought. For over 2 weeks I was not clear what was going on. I was in bed at the hospital for 2 weeks to have many surgeries. It was a life changing experience. I was losing my mind and just wanted it to be over. There were also life problems that came that way, where we were kicked out of our apartment and needed to rely on state assistance to find a place to live. They moved us to a nearby hotel that helps with homeless families. 4 years later, I will again be diagnosed with osteosarcoma in my left femur.
There were a lot of things that motivated me through the difficult time. I didn't have much hope for my future. I wanted to keep living because there is so much that I still wanted to do and achieve. My life has been slowed down, but I am not willing to stop now. I want to spend time with my friends and family and visit places that I have never been before.
If there is a way that I hope to motivate others that are going through the same that I am going through, I want to be there for them for any need and any type of support required. I want to let them know that there are people that care about them that are willing to help them just to see them happy.
There have been a lot of challenges that I have to deal with over my time with cancer. My goal and dream is to keep moving through even in the most difficult time. But no matter the situation, there is hope for everyone to deal with cancer."
Shane Boyle
"In November 2013, at the age of 11, I began having headaches, nausea and blurred vision. I was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and diagnosed with two malignant brain tumors. Being diagnosed with cancer at such a young age, I understand all too well what it is like to face a life threatening illness. My experience has made me very empathetic to those facing illness and disease. I have found strengths in all the challenges I have faced and my experience has taught me resiliency and compassion.
I want to make an impact in the lives of children facing cancer by helping them have a fighting chance. I can understand what they are going through physically and emotionally and can provide them with a sense of comfort. I feel I can make a connection with children facing cancer by providing them with the utmost care, empathy, compassion and helping them cope.
My dream job was to become a math teacher. I loved math and excelled in the subject. After seeing how my nurses helped me and how grateful I was for the care they gave me, it made me realize how rewarding the job of a pediatric nurse would be. That was when my dream of becoming a math teacher changed. I realized becoming a pediatric nurse was my destiny. Going through my own experience with cancer, I realized how many children are affected by cancer. The experience makes you want to support others because you know what it is like to be on the other side. My perception of life has changed and I never take anything for granted. Even though I had cancer, I do not let it define me or deter me from my goals. Life can continue after cancer and you can do anything you set your mind to.
Six years ago I faced the unimaginable, but in 4 months I will enter college to pursue a Bachelor in Nursing degree. Upon graduation, I want to obtain a full time job and specialize in pediatric oncology. In time, I hope to continue my education by obtaining a Master's degree."
2019 Recipients
Kisses for Kyle thanks the Two or More Foundation with funding to support our scholarship program!
Sarina Smith
2019 Scholarship Recipient Of A 1 Year, Up To $10,000 Scholarship
As a child who basically lived in the hospital for most of their life, I started to have an interest in medicine at a very early age. I have distinct memories of asking my nurses and doctors tons of question regarding procedures and medications because of how fascinated I was with how the human body works and what happens with medical abnormalities or illness. I always begged the nurses to let me help them flush out my IV or start my nasogastric tube feeds whenever I could. I loved the feeling of being hands on regarding my care. Thankfully I had exceptional nurses who kept me involved and taught me how to preform very basic skills while staying in the hospital. So, when it was time to choose a career, I had no difficulty deciding that nursing was the occupation for me.
Thinking back most of the nurses who cared for me were like second mothers to me and still are. They were empathetic and kind despite working with death and sickness on a daily basis. They knew when they needed to use some tough love and when I just needed someone to hold my hand. Those amazing women are who motivate me to pressure pediatric nursing. I want to be that nurse to a child. I never want a child who I am caring for to ever doubt that they are loved and safe in my care. I hope to continue to prove quality care and be compassionate regardless of the situation just like my nurses did for me.
I recently found a quote written by Lilah Gifty Akita that struck a chord within me because it is something I’ve lived by for as long as I can remember. The quote is as followed, “Every great warrior must learn to endure and overcome adversities of life”. I’ve faced challenges that some could never imagine or handle, yet I always find a way to be resilient and overcome whatever life throughs my way; cancer being one of those things. I’ve worked extremely hard in these last three years of nursing school because I want to be the best nurse, I can possibly be for a child who is facing one of their greatest challenges. I hope that one day I will be half as good of a nurse as those who cared for me all those years ago.
2018 Recipients
2018 Scholarship Recipients, Up To $5000 Scholarships Over the Course Of Up To 4 Years
Nia Murphy
The time that I found out that i was diagnosed with cancer had been one of the hardest things for me ever. I was only 10 years old. I started off having these weird episodes and didn't know what it was. So they happened more and more so I got worried and went to my parents. My parents saw me in actions and immediately took me to the hospital. I stayed in the hospital for a few days to get tested for them. Turned out these episodes were actually seizures and that I had epilepsy. I started to read about it to get a better understanding, because I was too young to understand.
A couple months later, I went back to the hospital for a check-up and MRI. When we got home my mom told me that I was diagnosed with brain cancer. We were all devastated and it was the worst news a 10-year-old could get. I didn't know much about it but I did know that it was not good.
What motivated me the most to helping other children facing their cancer diagnosis was seeing everyone at Children's Hospital and how they worked to helped me when I was sick. As I get older and started to see other sick children almost similar to mine makes me want to help and support them along the way.
Lastly my strengths and personal attributes are friendly, hardworking, dedicated, committed, respectful, and leadership. But instead of giving up and letting my challenges defeat me I found my strengths in all of them. Epilepsy has impacted my life because, at 11 years old a doctor told my parents I would not live for more than a year, and if I did I wouldn’t make it to college due an unexpected diagnosis of two serious medical conditions, brain cancer and epilepsy. It is my goal to prove them wrong. Since then I’ve had 2 surgeries and a stroke on one side of my body during one of them. I have had many challenges and obstacles in my life from medical to physical to the death of my father and through all of these things I am learning the meaning of perseverance.
Anaya Hunte
As of last year, I was fairly uncertain of my career path. Until my whole life had come to a complete stop. When I was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's Lymphoma on January 8, 2018. The diagnosis occurred in the middle of my senior year at Liberty High School; I was struck with confusion as I began to wonder what the rest of my life would entail. Luckily, I was assigned to the finest oncology team at St. Christopher's Children's Hospital; located in Philadelphia, PA. They presented me with my treatment plan, and thoroughly explained the emotional and physical stress that my body was about to endure. My treatment plan consisted of 4 aggressive cycles of chemotherapy and 3 weeks of radiation. My body later succumbed to the rapidly intrusive changes. First, I began losing handful-clumps of hair; then my weight, and shortly after, I lost interest in even my most cherished meals. An appetite so weak, I would gag at the very thought of food. The general pain I suffered through the treatment was just the icing on the cake. Though every reason to give up was presented, I remained optimistic and was determined to slay the Goliath that was cancer. I was persistent as I continued my education through Home Bond Instruction, and with the odds seemingly stacked against me; on June 7, 2018, I walked across that wide and sturdy stage to receive the certificate that will begin the journey that is the rest of my life. Based on this mind-opening experience, it was finally clear to me as to what career path I need to pursue. Becoming a Clinical Social Worker, specializing in Pediatric Oncology was the only way in my heart that I would be able to use my life as just one of the examples that children can use as they go through their life experiences; attempting to conquer their mountains; trying to slay their Goliath.
Stephanie Yost
A major influence that drove me to want to pursue my future career path was my nursing staff at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. When I was going through my cancer treatment I became close with several of the nurses that were treating me. As I was getting close to the nurses I had learned that several of them were either childhood cancer survivors themselves or someone close to them (siblings, friends, or other family members) had childhood cancer. The nurses that had gone through cancer themselves had shared their stories with me gave me the courage and hope that I would be okay and that I would survive my cancer. Due to what these nurses gave to me by showing me the power a nurse can have over a patient’s life other than helping with their medical problems I decided that I want to be a pediatric oncology nurse. I also want to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I want to able to do the same thing that they provided me with as a young cancer patient. I hope to provide a sense of comfort and understanding to children and teens going through chemotherapy. I also hope that by sharing my story of going through cancer, surviving and then succeeding in life with them will help to motivate their lives for whatever path they want to take and to give them a light that they may not have had before. Another influence that I had that pushed me towards being a pediatric nurse was my experience with the children from Kisses for Kyle. Being able to interact with teens and young children with cancer has given me a better insight then just my own experiences. Each one person taught me something about life and caring for one another that I think will help with being a pediatric nurse. I have also been able to interact with parents and siblings who are going through the battle of cancer as well with their child and brother or sister. I think this aspect will give me help with being a nurse because I will be able to communicate with the child’s parents better. I hope will also be able to help their sibling feel a little more comfortable with what is going with their brother or sister.
Lauren Bogiatzis
When I was only two years old, I was faced with one of the biggest obstacles in my life that continuously affects me every day. I was diagnosed with leukemia and battled it for three years until I was in remission. While I was relatively young and don't quite remember every aspect of my treatment, I do deal with the long-term effects as they are struggles that I still battle with every day. It has given me a different perspective on life.
One thing I learned from this experience is that life should never be taken for granted and that I should always be grateful for the things I have and people in my life. People often forget that the person undergoing treatment for cancer isn't the only one who is affected. My family was put through a lot, beyond the financial aspect of it all. My Mom had to quit her ob so she could stay with me in the hospital and take care of me. My Doctor would make her leave the room when she would cry because he didn't want me to see her upset. My sisters stayed at relatives and family friends homes while I was in the hospital because my Dad worked full time and he was never home to take care of them. Looking back now, I realize how their lives were also changed dramatically. I am extremely grateful and appreciative to have my family by my side which I feel most people take for granted. This is something I will always try to keep in mind when I'm going through difficult times in my life.
Having cancer has always reminded me to not worry about the little things in life and even the things some people consider big. When I hear people complaining about things such as a broken arm or wisdom teeth they had pulled, it doesn't have the same effect on me as it does to others. Some people say I seem unsympathetic, but after living through my diagnosis and treatment, it has changed my views of many things. A lot of people don't realize that those things are just little things and that's why I don't let it bother me when people say things like that.
My experiences have also made me very empathetic to those who have severe diseases or illnesses. Many people don't know the impact of these circumstances and it is a different sense of feeling or connection when you can personally relate to what someone else is going through. When people try to say they understand, they actually have no idea what it's like because you truly don't understand something unless it happens to you. This is why I hope one day I will be very successful in what I do so I can help inspire those who are going through a difficult time in their life and show them they can do whatever they set their mind to.
Most people don't realize there are "late effects" from cancer treatment that does affect you the rest of your life. The hardest one for me to deal with was not being able to focus in school, because of my ADD, and struggling for hours to find the words to write a couple sentences. When I was in middle school, I never thought I'd be smart enough to get into any college or be successful in anything. Luckily, I have an amazing Mom who didn't let me give up on myself, pushed me everyday, and fought to get me the help I needed at school so I could be successful. I'm proud of myself for pushing through because I ended up being accepted to every college I applied to and know now I'm capable of anything. I believe there is a reason I survived from cancer and I try to remind myself that I am blessed for the second chance at life that I was given because not everyone is as lucky. I think having cancer has made me a much stronger, wiser, and appreciative person in every obstacle I face.