Childhood Cancer Survivor and Scholarship Recipient is Ready to Give Back
Meet Ali
Becoming a teenager is a happy milestone for most kids. But turning 13 didn’t bring a care-free time of life and fun with friends for Ali Nedved-it brought her a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis.
Ali, who is from Corbin, Ky., spent a year undergoing chemotherapy and radiation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Now 19 years old and six years post-treatment, she feels the experience made her stronger.
“During treatment, I battled physically, mentally and spiritually,” Ali said. “Through my journey, I learned to view the glass half full and live my life to the utmost of my abilities.”
Motivated by this optimism, Ali is studying nursing at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. She plans to eventually earn a master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics and oncology. The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) is excited to be a part of making that possible through the Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship program.
While at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Ali found out about the NCCS and the resources available to her and her family. She’s extremely thankful for the organization, the scholarship she received and all who make the NCCS’ programs possible. Without help from the NCCS, she doesn’t think she would be able to support herself and pursue her dreams of helping pediatric cancer patients.
“I am forever grateful to those who have given me this opportunity. Not only have they altered my life in unforeseeable ways, but they have fueled my passion even more to help those going through treatment,” said Ali. “The NCCS gave me hope and encouragement in a time when I did not think I would be able to go to college…It is apparent that everyone at NCCS wants us to succeed; it is even more apparent that they go above and beyond to aid in our success.”
Ali is eager to give back as a way to pay forward all that she gained through the NCCS. She has made encouraging cards for children facing cancer like the ones she appreciated getting while enduring treatment. As a Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship recipient, her ultimate goal is to use the nurse practitioner pathway to open a cancer clinic.
“Throughout treatment, my nurse practitioner was phenomenal. She was able to take part in my care the entire time,” Ali said. “I want to give back to the cancer community by doing something that I am genuinely passionate about and this career choice gives me that opportunity.”