My Nonprofit Reviews

Making Your Darkest Days Feel Bright

My upbringing was rough. My dad was in and out of my life and my mother wasn't too sure on how to be a mother. My grandmother, alongside with my grandfather, did a lot of my raising. On top of absentee parents I also was in special education services. I was labeled AU (high performing autism) and LD (learning disabled), on top of those I was in speech services as well. I was picked on constantly in school and as I continued to grow in age my body begin to grow chunky and awkward. By age 11 I was over weight and lethargic all the time, but age 12 I could barely manage to move without winding myself. My father had summer custody when he decided to take me into the doctor to see why I had no energy.

We found out that I had leukemia and I was assigned to Dr. Lazarus. I was in bad condition and needed extensive care. I went through years of treatments, chemotherapy, and spinal taps. I lost my hair - twice. I lost my self especially for a preteen/teen. I lost my friends. And my mother basically abandoned me during the days to her mother - my grandmother. Life was bleak, so bleak that I begin to contemplate suicide.

This is where Make-A-Wish came in. They told me to pick 3 things I would love to do and they'd try their best to get one of my wishes granted. I wished to go a cruise and within months it was booked. I sailed to Mexico, Jamaica, and the Grand Caymans. It was amazing and it lifted my spirits enough to fight the rest of my fight.

I am now 16 years cancer free. I have my bachelor's in elementary education and my master's in educational technology. I am currently working on my PhD in special education.

Who inspires me? Make-A-Wish. Why? Because they take a child's worst nightmare, their darkest days, and does their best to make them even just a little bit brighter.