My story is not unique. I know many people, personally, who have gone through a similar experience of being a caregiver and advocating for a parent during a cancer battle or other illness. The purpose of this blog is for me to be able to go in-depth about what unfolded during my mom’s six-month cancer battle and have a place to talk about it.
I had been pursuing an A.S. in Nursing before the events that unfolded on July 3rd, 2023. After spending more time in the hospital from July 3rd – December 25th, 2023, than at home, I had no desire to pursue nursing or any healthcare field. I was sick of hospitals and was able to see the exhaustion and stress on nearly every nurse that we came into contact with. The time I spent doing my prereqs at South College and pursuing a Nursing career was the proudest my mom had ever been of me. It was the first time I’d taken school seriously, and I discovered that I loved and understood biology and microbiology.
The night before my mother passed, I decided to return to Roane State and pursue a degree in Microbiology. I wanted to get involved in cancer research in some form or fashion. I aim to graduate from Roane State in the spring of 2025 with my A.S. in Biology and then transfer to UTK, where I’ll pursue a double major in Microbiology and Biochemistry. During this time, I plan to study extensively for the MCAT and hope to pursue medical school and do the MD or DO/Ph.D. route and focus on becoming a pathologist.
Living With A Purpose After Loss 