Essay| Kori Hines
As a seventeen-year-old cancer survivor, I have learned a lot about the difficulties life often presents, but I have faced every obstacle in my life with determination and courage. On January 6, 2011, at the age of 13, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. And on October 6, I became a successful bone marrow transplant recipient. With my own tenacity, the support o my family, and the loving care of medical providers; I overcame my 30 percent chance of survival to become a cancer survivor and a success story.
In 2012, I began my own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called the Kori Cares Foundation. As Co-founder and Vice President of the Kori Cares Foundation, I am serving my community by providing love and support to the families of pediatric cancer patients in the form of hygiene care packages for the parents and caregivers of newly diagnosed cancer patients at children’s hospitals. The Kori Cares Foundation is an organization that was developed solely to address a specific need in my community; however, I hope to bring the Kori Cares love to other communities in the future.
My experience with cancer has even led to me serving as a spokesperson for organ donation and transplantation. I have given speeches to small groups and to gymnasiums filled with thousands of people regarding the need for transplant donation and the effect that one person can have by becoming a living donor. Through my participation and leadership in organ donation awareness, I have influenced many members of my community about the significance of bone marrow and organ donation, propelling many people to join the registry and potentially save a life.
Throughout my journey as a leukemia patient, I witnessed the altruism of many nurses and they inspired me to make a difference in the lives of others. Thus, one of my greatest aspirations is to become a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner and Physician’s Assistant so that I have the opportunity to leave a positive, lasting impression on all of the patients and families who are within my care, just a my nurses did for me. As I enter adulthood and into my chosen career, I will be able to help other patients understand the positive outlook that can be taken from the arduous experiences of a medical diagnosis. Without the impact of cancer in my life, I would never have known how much of a positive influence I could have on the lives of others.
For many people, cancer, understandably, is a frightening word because treatment is incredibly difficult – a perception that I can attest to. However, cancer has also given me strength and it has allowed me to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Although, medical diagnoses and other circumstances of life are difficult to overcome, such afflictions help us grow and allow us to truly appreciate the goodness that life has to offer. Without cancer, I would not have had the advantage of realizing, at such a young age, the true value of every life experience – those both bad and good.