Meet Allison!
Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Recipient, 2019–2022
The diagnosis left her with more questions than answers, and she immediately began researching her disease and its treatment. Allison was determined to understand as much as she could, but no amount of searching could prepare her for one devastating reality: infertility. “That’s when it really hit me. I remember reading on my iPod that cancer treatment usually causes infertility,” she shared. Becoming a mother was something she had always dreamed of, so learning that she would not be able to conceive children was crushing. Still, Allison knew she had to undergo treatment if she wanted a chance of survival.
The story resonated deeply with Allison. She recalled, “I remember feeling so touched by her story and that was just what I needed to hear. That really gave me the strength and hope to be able to move on and know that this dark time in my life was going to pass and that I could also, just like she did, move on.”
As she looked ahead to college, Allison was eager for a fresh start, one free from the shadow cancer had cast over her high school years. She enrolled at Brigham Young University, excited to step into a new chapter.
But halfway through her first semester, her world was shaken once again. “In 2017, about halfway through my first semester at BYU, I learned that my cancer had returned in my hip,” she said. Hundreds of miles from home, without her familiar support system, she faced the terrifying news alone until her parents quickly boarded a flight to be by her side. She was ultimately forced to leave the university she loved, and she returned home to St. Louis for treatment.
This time, her doctors were candid about her prognosis. Chemotherapy would be harsh, but necessary. After several difficult rounds, her doctor recommended a PET scan to see if the treatment was effective. The results stunned everyone. “We got the results back and that was nothing short of a miracle. My scan showed that there was zero cancer in my body, nothing lit up on the scan. The only thing I can call it is a miracle,” she said.
Beating cancer twice before the age of 20 instilled in Allison a profound resilience. She found peace, joy, and a renewed sense of confidence. When she met her now husband, she was honest about her cancer journey and the likelihood she would not be able to have biological children. From the beginning of her diagnosis, doctors had been clear: conceiving children was nearly impossible. But after surviving two miracles already, she experienced a third. “By the time I was married, I came to terms with that, and I made myself new goals and aspirations in life that didn’t involve being a mother. Very shortly after I married, we found out that I was pregnant, and that experience of finding out I was pregnant after so many years of being told that it would never happen for me, I was so happy. It was such a miracle for me, and I now have two children, and they’re my miracle babies.”
Throughout her journey, Allison was surrounded by unconditional love. Her parents never left her side, carrying her through sleepless nights, hospital stays, and hard conversations. Her siblings were forced to grow up quickly. She knows they carry their own trauma from watching her battle, but she admires their bravery and credits them with being just as strong as she was. Family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers stepped in with meals, childcare, prayers, and encouragement. For Allison, it was especially moving to see people of different religions, backgrounds, and beliefs unite to support her family. Faith and community became her anchor.
Looking forward, Allison is clear about one thing: she refuses to credit cancer for her growth. While some survivors feel grateful for what the disease taught them, Allison has a different perspective. To her, cancer is nothing but cruel. What she celebrates is the strength she found within herself, her determination, faith, and hope that carried her through. Thriving beyond cancer, to her, means reclaiming her story, honoring her strength, and choosing joy without letting fear or trauma hold her back. Her message is one of hope and resilience: while the road through cancer is unimaginably hard, there is always support, always love, and always power in the strength you discover within yourself.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve definitely become a lot prouder of my scars. They are evidence of what has happened to me and the toll that cancer has taken on me. My scars are badges of bravery because they are proof of that resiliency I’ve had through so many years; they’re proof of my strength,” Allison said.
If you would like to support other childhood cancer survivors in reaching their educational goals through the Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program, click here.