Hunter is going to be 18 in june and will be graduating high school this year. She has her drivers license, a job, and great friends that hardly ever get to see her. She is very outgoing (once she gets to know you) and loves to dance. She also enjoys playing video games with other people from around the world and has made great friends with many of them as well. She also loves to swim and be silly.
Hunter was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in August of 2014. One day she woke up and complained that her neck/shoulder area hurt. I (her mom) told her that she probably slept wrong and that she would be fine. Throughout the day and the following days she would tell me different areas were now hurting. Then one day she woke up with a fever. We took her to the doctor and he ran a blood test (several times) because he did not believe what he was seeing. He advised us to go straight to the hospital and he would let them know we were on our way. That night our lives would be turned upside down. Hunter was admitted that same evening and would not leave the hospital for 7 months.
Hunter has been through an 8 hour brain surgery, multiple MRI’s, bone x-rays, weekly injections, lifetime medications, and frequent specialist doctor visits. She has endured several bone marrow surgery procedures, five rounds of chemo, countless blood transfusions and bloodwork. Due to the chemotherapy treatment, she now has a heart condition along with the other issues related to her mass.
Cancer has changed many things about our lives. I stayed with her during treatment so that my husband could continue working to cover my loss of income. Being apart from us for so long has hurt our marriage and when we did come home it was very hard to adjust back to married life. I sheltered myself to the house with my daughter while she recovered. During treatment she lost all of her friends and I only had a few that stuck by me. Our world was consumed by cancer. When hunter was well enough to return back to school she had severe anxiety so i would stay home and next to my phone at all times in case she needed me. Almost 3 years later she has new friends, a job and is driving and I am still feeling like I cant leave the house .
I am happy to say our marriage is much stronger and our daughter is getting back to her outgoing pre-diagnosis self. Hunter has been through more than someone her age should ever have to go through but has never lost her faith or will to fight. She is our hero and we are so proud of her and her accomplishments
Hope Session by JozGirli Photography