Fighting Through Illness
Submitted by holly potterMy daughter's life abruptly changed course at the age of 17 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She was an active young woman who was a goaltender on a high school hockey team and had set records in her junior year. We anticipated nothing but continued greatness as her prowess on the ice progressed. She was actively involved in all aspects of her high school education, being the set designer for the annual theatrical production (South Pacific). She was an avid academic, maintaining a high GPA which was noticed by college recruiters. When she was diagnosed, she kept her head down and kept on going, playing hockey throughout treatment (as a way to maintain her physical fitness) and graduated with a 3.89, all while getting chemotherapy infusions every other week. She did not want to be known as someone who was ill, so she wore the same baseball cap all throughout treatment so no one would automatically notice her hair loss. She wanted "normal". She has been in remission for close to five years now, having completed her college education with a 3.85 GPA. She is gainfully employed in her major, Movement and Exercise Science, as a Personal Trainer, and is headed for the life that was threatened to be taken from her. As a way of coping with the illness, Make A Wish-Vermont, chose Beth to send to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
