Savannah B

My name’s Savannah. I was rasied in Bakersfield, California, a conservative town to say the least. Regardless, I’ve always been somewhat of a joker. As a child and young adult, I did whatever I could to get someone to smile. I made an effort to bring comedy to every situation, but then, at the age of eight in July of 1999, my whole world changed and my ability to laugh through life became a struggle. I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

For the most part, I was still able to keep my child spirit alive. My doctors explained in a solemn voice, “You’ll no longer be able to attend school, and you’ll lose your hair from the treatment.” In my mind, I became giddy, “I don’t have to go to school today, and I get to shave my head?” Leave it to a child to turn a scary situation into a positive. One of my many doctors explained I would need a port-a-cath (a shunt) placed on my upper left chest. Once again, my child spirit thought, “Okay cool, I’m a robot.”

All of the adults around me seemed very concerned, but I kept going as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until treatment began that I truly understood the battle I would be facing. I was flooded with spinal taps, various shots, blood transfusions, and bone marrow tests. Had I been anywhere but the UCLA Hospital, I don’t think I would have survived. My medical staff was amazing. Then, I was assigned a Child Life Specialist by the name of Hilary Gan, and she lit up my world whenever she came into the room. She is a woman who brings positivity and hope to all the children she works with.

A year and a half of treatment and I was declared to be in remission. There’s an eerie weight that falls on you as time slows down and you reemerge into the regular world. No one checking your vital signs through the night, no I.V. hanging from your chest, I could eat whatever I wanted. I was home! I spent the next year and a half in pure bliss as I enjoyed life to the fullest.

Sadly, I experienced two relapses, one at the age of 12 and the other at the age of 16. With my third diagnosis, my doctors decided to pull out the big guns and go with a bone marrow transplant. It was the most intense treatment I had experienced to date. I was poked and prodded. I received full body radiation and intense rounds of chemotherapy. Then, I was given a bone marrow transplant from the cells of an umbilical cord.

During my recovery in the hospital, I was infected with encephalitis (swelling of the brain). My memory was wiped. I could not recognize anyone, including my own mother. My memory only lasted seconds at a time. I was terrified. Luckily, my team of doctors moved quickly, and I was able to recover. Unfortunately, I do have permanent memory loss from the infection, which makes day-to-day life very difficult.

I was in the hospital for just over three months before getting to go home. Once back home, getting into the swing of things was a slow but steady process. I was home schooled my junior year of high school because my immune system was not quite ready for large crowds. Then, Senior year, I was able to go back to school. I graduated High School with a 4.0. While I was able to do well in academics, my social life has been a challenge ever since my transplant. However, I kept my comedian spirit alive, and made an effort to help people laugh whenever I could.

After High School, I earned my Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In my spare time, I would volunteer at multiple venues such as Optimal Hospice and Foundation ThinkAgain. My social life was a challenge, but my family was a tremendous support system for me, as well as the continued support from my medical team at UCLA.

I began the masters program at Cal State Bakersfield for Public Administration in 2016. Sadly, within the first quarter, I was diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time. This time, it was thyroid cancer. After my doctors made the diagnosis, things moved quickly. I had my thyroid removed at the age of 26. After the surgery, I was given a radioactive pill that, in turn, made me radioactive. I was in isolation for ten days. Recovery after my Thyroidectomy was tough. In order to get all the cancer, a nerve had to be severed, leaving my right cheek, neck, and shoulder numb. Fortunately, it was easy to get used to.

Once my body was strong enough, I returned back to school. I am currently making huge efforts to transfer to Long Beach University where the air quality is ten times better than Bakersfield, California. My dream is to work for a non-profit agency and do all I can to make those struggling smile.

Throughout my battles, I was blessed with fantastic programs, which lent me a helping hand. One of my favorites is Teen Cancer America. TCA hosts multiple events throughout the year for cancer survivors to attend and gain support from one another. The individuals working the program are some of the most loving people I have met. Individuals such as the wonderful Simon, the beautiful Geraldine Lee, the fantastic Hilary Gan, and the amazing Hernan Baragan make TCA the jewel it is. Thanks to them, it helped boost my self-esteem, allowing me to accomplish anything, regardless of my disabilities. I choose to support the charity because of what it represents, empowering the hearts and minds of cancer survivors who may need to be reminded that we too can accomplish anything we put our minds to. Thank you Teen Cancer America, you’ll always be in my heart.

Healing the mind, body, and soul,

Bringing smiles to faces,

TCA on the roll,

Supporting cancer survivors,

Who may need a little help,

Trough thick and thin ensuring good health,

No disabilities at TCA,

Perfection is just imagination,

Easing the mind with a cancer vacation,

Doctors and nurses no longer exist,

As Teen Cancer America lifts us up with pure bliss.