How My Aunts Cancer Journey Inspired My Interest in the Nursing Field by Rainn

How My Aunts Cancer Journey Inspired My Interest in the Nursing Field by Rainn - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022, my family found out that my Aunt Amy had stage 4 melanoma cancer. Amy is a runner, and she would typically run 10 miles a day to get ready for her upcoming marathon. She experienced some discomfort in her leg one day while running, which turned out to be the result of malignant tumors. On January 23, 2023, Amy started her first immunotherapy treatment. Three days afterward, she was admitted to the hospital for surgery, during which metal rods were embedded into both of her legs. She was in the hospital for nearly three weeks, and my mother and I visited her almost every day.

My mother would sleep there with her to be sure she had support all through the night. The hardest part for me was feeling like there was absolutely nothing I could do to assist her. She would always be so happy when I would go grab her fruit cups from Panera.

My aunt made a slow but remarkable recovery over the course of a few months. Her daily plan needed to change to fit her new reality, and she needed to begin walking again. When I visited her house one day to bring her flowers, I recall being shocked to see how her living room had been changed into a temporary hospital room. A completely mobile medical bed, a little bathroom built out of PVC pipes and shower curtains, and other equipment were lying all over the place. She is a fitness enthusiast; in fact, she had little miniature weights next to her bed. I was amazed by my aunt's determination since I could tell she was enthusiastic about getting better.

I became aware that my aunt's experience had affected me as she recovered. I saw that I was growing more understanding of other individuals and that I valued my family time even more. I've always cherished my family, but I've also come to understand that anything can happen at any time and they play a vital role in my support system. The experience of seeing my close relative go through this made me understand how delicate life is and how effortlessly things can change. I presently make it a point to let my loved ones know how much I appreciate their presence and well-being in my life at any chance I get.

Seeing the sympathy the nurses showed towards my aunt truly affirmed my interests and I found myself being drawn to the nursing profession. At first, I was pretty overwhelmed by being at the hospital, but eventually, I got to be very curious about what the staff members and nurses were doing for my aunt.

In the future, I would like to work as a nurse, a profession that will allow me to positively affect the lives of others, something I have always wanted to do. I want to motivate and grant trust to my future patients by reflecting on my involvement and experience with my aunt. I am extremely thankful for my aunt and the lessons she taught me, the significance of living in the moment and valuing the time I have with those I love.