CHIARA'S STORY

My story begins on February 26 of 2018 when I received my Ewing Sarcoma Diagnosis. I underwent treatment at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, but it had been a year long ordeal before I received my cancer diagnosis, due to a misdiagnosis at a different hospital. It was there that I underwent two non-invasive surgeries and was told I had a benign tumor in my leg, but that it was “nothing to worry about”. I always knew that something was going on, as I had this very deep and intense stabbing pain throughout my upper leg and hip.

 

When the pain continued after the two surgeries, my family and I decided that I needed a second opinion, which is how I ended up at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore. I was immediately drawn to their care team and emphasis on patient quality. After getting scans and a bone biopsy, I was called into an urgent appointment visit, where I heard the words “you have cancer”. I remember the feeling well, almost like a train had slammed into me and I felt completely mute. Fortunately, after further testing, it was confirmed that my cancer had remained localized. I would undergo 14 rounds of chemotherapy along with 31 rounds of radiation for local control. All this lasted for about 10 months, where I received over 70+ blood transfusions from chemotherapy side effects.

 

Before my treatment at Children's Hospital at Montefiore, I was a dancer with The Washington Ballet, in D.C. The company was set to dance at The Kennedy Center two weeks after I received my cancer diagnosis. I had actually been dancing until the very day I was told “you have cancer”. I obviously went through stages where I was upset and wanted to be back on stage, but I learned how to use ballet as my motivator and a way of getting through treatment. When I completed my first 6 rounds of chemotherapy, I was given two options for local tumor control. One was surgery, where a large portion of my femur would have been removed. I was told that I would not be able to dance again with this option. The second choice was radiation, which would give me the opportunity to return to ballet when I completed treatment. Although decision making is always tough, I always knew in my heart that I wanted to take the radiation approach and hearing the reassurance from my doctors gave me a great amount of hope.

 

On November 16, 2018 I completed my last round of chemotherapy and on December 17 received my NED news. 5 years later, I have officially been declared a cancer survivor. I am extremely thankful to The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and all that was done for me throughout my treatment. I was given a second chance at doing what I love and am now back to being a professional dancer with City Ballet of San Diego. My journey also brought an interest to the health science field, which I am currently completing my bachelor’s degree for, at Northeastern University. I am thankful for my family, who have always been by my side throughout my cancer journey and journey after.

 

I am honored to be sharing this story with the Akanimo Cancer Foundation, as I was privileged and honored to have met Akanimo and his family during my cancer treatment at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. Those who know me and my story, also know of Akanimo and how much he touched my life. I will never forget my memories of watching him help others, while so clearly having such an intuitive mind and caring personality. His story reminds me every day to help create change in the pediatric oncology community and I am grateful to have met the Ekanem family and how they continue to carry Nimo’s story and legacy.

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