MATTHEW SASAKI, from California, is looking forward to starting college this fall at Cosumnes River College in his home state after completing very long and difficult treatment regimens for leukemia.  Diagnosed at age 13, Matt underwent 9 months of chemo and began high school believing this was all behind him.  However, Matt relapsed two years later and once again faced an even more prolonged course of treatment.  The side effects were brutal and included two strokes, many weeks in the hospital and damage to his right hand and leg.  Physical therapy was added to his schedule and attending school became impossible.  An industrious Matt was not going to let this get him down, so he took the high school equivalency exam and set his sights on college.  He just finished his treatment last month (YAY!) and is enjoying spending time with friends this summer.

CONGRATULATIONS, MATT!!

RYAN SCHLOSSER also knows the heartbreak of relapsing.  At age 13, Ryan was diagnosed with juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, a brain tumor.  A 16-hour surgery was required to remove it, after which Ryan was paralyzed on his right side and sustained extensive cognitive problems.  Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy helped, but Ryan needed to become a "leftie" for hand writing - a difficult task for anyone.  Through hard work, Ryan progressed from a wheel chair to a walker to a leg brace in order to walk again.  Trying hard to return to school, Ryan was diagnosed with a second, inoperable tumor at the start of 9th grade which necessitated chemo for 16 months.  When chemo was concluded, the tumor began to grow again and Ryan underwent proton beam radiation.  All the while, Ryan was determined to keep up with school even though studying had become twice as difficult for him.  He proudly graduated with his class and will be a freshman at Taylor University in his home state of Indiana this fall!

CONGRATULATIONS, RYAN!!

ELIZABETH STAUFFER was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 16, and underwent surgery, radiation and chemo during her sophomore year of high school.  Active with tennis, basketball and Girl Scouting, Elizabeth had to rearrange her daily activities after developing Somnolence Syndrome from the radiation, which caused her to sleep for up to 20 hours a day.  Elizabeth was also highly allergic to her chemotherapy and had to discontinue it.  Starting her junior year, she was looking forward to resuming her normal activities when she learned that her tumor had grown back.  More surgery, more chemo, and more allergic reactions followed for an entire year, and at last Elizabeth could start her senior year in high school off treatment.  She will be a freshman at Albright College in her home state of Pennsylvania this fall, pursuing a career working with children.  

CONGRATULATIONS, ELIZABETH!!

ALYSE PRIEST lives in Oregon and as a high school junior, underwent surgery to remove a cyst on her ovary.  Thinking all was OK, she looked forward to her senior year until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Major surgery and chemo followed, with many days spent at home too ill to attend school.  Alyse had to rearrange her plans for senior year, where she was active in year book, the National Honor Society and the Diversity Club.  Although she was unable to attend many school functions, she still managed to contribute to these activities.  Originally Alyse hoped to go to a  college away from home.  However, since she is still on treatment, she changed her plans to be closer to home and her physician.  She plans to major in mathematics and computer science at Portland State University this fall.   As with all of our cancer warriors, Alyse has not let cancer dictate her life and we know she will achieve whatever goals she sets for herself.

CONGRATULATIONS, ALYSE!

PAIGE KALIKA lives in New Hampshire and will be attending Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia this fall as a criminal justice major.  She'll also be starting college while on treatment, a daunting idea to most of us.  But not Paige - she has dealt head-on with cancer treatments since she was 4 years old.  Diagnosed with neuroblastoma, Paige underwent an experimental treatment which resolved the cancer for 12 years, until it returned when Paige was 16.  An avid basketball player, Paige was sidelined with chemo and has to travel long distances every week for treatment.  Spending her summers making up missed school work instead of just being a teen and having fun has not made Paige bitter.  To the contrary, she is more determined than ever to get on with her life and ultimately wants to be an attorney working in law enforcement.  There is no question that Paige can attain her goals.  Her persistence and courage has demonstrated that she is made of stronger stuff than most of us.  See you in court, Paige!

CONGRATULATIONS, PAIGE!!

DAVID BROOX MIDDLETON  is just your average guy who's had to fight off cancer twice.  Broox was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 5 years old and underwent surgery and ten years of treatment and monitoring at an out of state hospital that required extensive travel and time away from home.  Broox was left with several disabilities including partial blindness but was obviously happy to put this ordeal behind him.  However, almost immediately thereafter, Broox was diagnosed with testicular cancer, necessitating surgery and more chemotherapy.  While most of us would have decided to just take it easy at that point, Broox was going to pursue a career in nuclear and radiological engineering and cancer wasn't going to stop him.  He will enrol at Auburn University in his home state of Alabama this fall.  Better stay out of this man's way because he's one determined guy!

CONGRATULATIONS, BROOX!!

HUNTER DURFEE is heading to Keene State College in his home state of New Hampshire this fall to pursue a degree in teaching.  Hunter has been battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia since he was just 11 years old, and developed severe osteoporosis from the treatment.  Having bones that broke easily meant no more contact sports for Hunter, including his beloved ice hockey.  Once he reached high school, Hunter took up golf and tennis instead, and was excelling at these sports as well as academically when he suffered a mini-stroke.  Testing revealed that the leukemia had returned, and now Hunter had to endure more chemo and radiation, with complications including a lung problem.  Through incredible effort, Hunter graduated with his class and, like some of our other winners, will be starting college while still on treatment.  Hunter has much to offer his future students and will make an outstanding teacher.

CONGRATULATIONS, HUNTER!!

KELSEY LEE, from Iowa, was playing volleyball at age 14 when she fell.  Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma which had spread to her lungs.  Kelsey underwent surgery, chemo and radiation for the next 9 months and did well until she developed leukemia as a side effect from her sarcoma treatment.  More chemo was followed by a bone marrow transplant, and finally after more than 2 years of continuous, rigorous treatment, Kelsey saw the light at the end of the tunnel.  Keeping up with schoolwork despite many absences has paid off for Kelsey, who graduated 6th in her class and will be attending Hawkeye Community College this fall to become a medical secretary.   Way to go!

CONGRATULATIONS, KELSEY!!

JUAN ANTONIO MALDONADO, JR. is enrolling at the University of Texas-San Antonio campus this fall, in his home state.  Juan was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia at age 16 and has been under treatment ever since.   Juan's dreams of a career playing football were derailed by his treatment regimen, which is complicated by the fact that it is difficult to adjust dosages for this extremely rare  form of cancer.  Juan has many reactions to the medications which require frequent hospitalizations and weekly labs tests and exams.  Somehow, Juan keeps a positive attitude and wants nothing more than to be able to help his family someday.   Someone with this kind of inner strength can - and will - achieve his goals.  We're behind you all the way!

CONGRATULATIONS, JUAN!!

JESSICA STAYER is from Ohio and is a student at Kent State University.  Jessica has had an extraordinarily difficult battle with Hodgkins Disease with multiple relapses,  several chemotherapy regimens, and tandem stem cell transplants.  Diagnosed as a high school senior, Jessica worked diligently to complete high school on time despite being on treatment.  Shortly after starting college, the cancer returned and she was forced to put her education on hold to undergo the rigors of back-to-back transplants.  Having endured that, Jessica again returned to school with hopes of completing her degree in business so that she could have a career working with cancer-related non-profit organizations.  She is currently undergoing treatment for a second relapse.  Although school may have to wait for awhile, we know that Jessica is determined to power her way through this and we are in her corner.

CONGRATULATIONS, JESSICA!!

DEREK STRATA also calls Ohio home and will be a freshman at Mount Union College in his home state this fall.  Derek is yet another of our cancer warriors to start college while on treatment for Ewing's Sarcoma.  Diagnosed at age 8, Derek had surgery which left him paralyzed for 8 months and finally resumed a "normal" life after a long course of chemotherapy.  After 5 years in remission, Derek's cancer returned, this time in his lungs.  Despite undergoing many surgeries and other treatment,  Derek persevered with the help of a tutor and is now college-bound.  We are truly impressed with his courage and determination and know he will excel in whatever career he chooses.

CONGRATULATIONS, DEREK!!

BRIDGET FROSINA joins the ranks of our warriors starting college while on treatment.  Bridget will be a freshman at the University of Connecticut in her home state this fall, pursuing a career in nursing. After being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 3, Bridget was in remission for 14 wonderful years before the cancer returned.  She is undergoing chemo at the present time but despite experiencing allergic reactions and complications with her port, Bridget made it to the Prom and continued to participate in many activities at school.  We can't think of a more compassionate nurse than Bridget and we wish her all the best!

CONGRATULATIONS, BRIDGET!!