Cydney Smith Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Let’s help Cydney fight cancer! For the second time she has Acenic cell carcinoma of the poratid gland and lymphnods.
All the funds will be going towards medical bills, flying to different states to get treatment, and for housing cost while she is getting help.
Cydney’s story:
When people tell about ‘life changing events’, it can often come across as dramatic. However, that’s exactly what it is. Without an event carrying weight on the shoulders of all whom are considerably involved, then there is nothing to be notable or worth the effort of recognising as important. When I was 15 years old, I was diagnosed with Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Parotid Glad, and yes, it had changed my life.
I was just entering 6th grade and was 11 years old when my tumour was originally discovered insignificantly small and labelled as benign by my first biopsy. I had always been an overachiever with my studies and had strived to get straight A’s and had a passion for my art. I would be on the principal honour roll with perfect attendance to class; I had wanted to make my parents proud as much as I had felt proud of myself. Seventh grade year passed, as did eighth and my tumour had steadily grown during this time period. It was decided to get my second biopsy when I finally exposed to my mother on how painful it had become on the side of my face. When I would eat, it was particularly painful. I would be diagnosed with that appointment and would get surgery that year on my second day as a freshman in high school.
I was blessed. With my cancer, the tumour was a solid dense mass and there was no sign for the need to undergo any form of radiation treatments. I was back in school five days later with fifty stitches lining the curve of my neck and wrapping around my right ear. It wasn’t my cancer that was to be my test however; it was the environment around me as a disfigured young girl that was the true challenge.
When people come to not understand a situation, it can appear to be frightening. When it comes to disfigurement, some people don’t know how to react and it creates an uncomfortable environment for them. Perhaps adults could handle this fear with maturity; I though was at a new school district as a freshman and amongst young people whom had often met this fear and curiosity, with meanness and cruelty. This is what had impacted me most. This is how my cancer had sent me on the pursuit of bettering myself even further, particularly with my education. I had decided that sticks, stones and words wouldn’t ever hurt me again. I would study and rehearse and I would make top 15 percent of my graduating class in 2015 as a member of the National Honours Society.
Upon graduating, I had strived to join the military and began engineering and math studies after taking the ASVAB Test in order to become a nuclear engineer for the Navy. This had taken place only four years after I had endured my cancer surgery, so I had to wait a year to enlist because all cancer survivors must be five years consistently free. This is the first time I had to encounter my disease hindering my ability to strive for my goals, but it wouldn’t stop me from achieving more. I would work hard, continue my studies privately and I would wait out that year till I could enlist in 2016. That year in August, I had reunited with my Navy Petty Officer recruiter. I would take more imaging at the hospital and get personal letters of recommendation from my doctors to prove that cancer doesn’t exist in myself any longer. That following December of 2016, my disease of 2011 had taken my chance of joining our military because of the disfigurement in my face that was acquired. I had then stopped my studies of engineering and mathematics, but this was not because of the defeat my cancer had on my military career. I only wanted more. The pursuit of my education was amplified. In 2017 I had taken a job in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and would network around the oil field. I had met many people of many cultures and of many career paths. I would hear the stories of others and I began a desire to create more stories for myself. I then understood that I had wanted to choose a career that would allow me to travel; I began to conduct private studies with electricians and would apply for AVTEC in Seward, Alaska. I got early acceptance and was officially accepted on March 1, 2018.
All the funds will be going towards medical bills, flying to different states to get treatment, and for housing cost while she is getting help. Cydney’s story:
When people tell about ‘life changing events’, it can often come across as dramatic. However, that’s exactly what it is. Without an event carrying weight on the shoulders of all whom are considerably involved, then there is nothing to be notable or worth the effort of recognising as important. When I was 15 years old, I was diagnosed with Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Parotid Glad, and yes, it had changed my life.
I was just entering 6th grade and was 11 years old when my tumour was originally discovered insignificantly small and labelled as benign by my first biopsy. I had always been an overachiever with my studies and had strived to get straight A’s and had a passion for my art. I would be on the principal honour roll with perfect attendance to class; I had wanted to make my parents proud as much as I had felt proud of myself. Seventh grade year passed, as did eighth and my tumour had steadily grown during this time period. It was decided to get my second biopsy when I finally exposed to my mother on how painful it had become on the side of my face. When I would eat, it was particularly painful. I would be diagnosed with that appointment and would get surgery that year on my second day as a freshman in high school.
I was blessed. With my cancer, the tumour was a solid dense mass and there was no sign for the need to undergo any form of radiation treatments. I was back in school five days later with fifty stitches lining the curve of my neck and wrapping around my right ear. It wasn’t my cancer that was to be my test however; it was the environment around me as a disfigured young girl that was the true challenge.
When people come to not understand a situation, it can appear to be frightening. When it comes to disfigurement, some people don’t know how to react and it creates an uncomfortable environment for them. Perhaps adults could handle this fear with maturity; I though was at a new school district as a freshman and amongst young people whom had often met this fear and curiosity, with meanness and cruelty. This is what had impacted me most. This is how my cancer had sent me on the pursuit of bettering myself even further, particularly with my education. I had decided that sticks, stones and words wouldn’t ever hurt me again. I would study and rehearse and I would make top 15 percent of my graduating class in 2015 as a member of the National Honours Society.
Upon graduating, I had strived to join the military and began engineering and math studies after taking the ASVAB Test in order to become a nuclear engineer for the Navy. This had taken place only four years after I had endured my cancer surgery, so I had to wait a year to enlist because all cancer survivors must be five years consistently free. This is the first time I had to encounter my disease hindering my ability to strive for my goals, but it wouldn’t stop me from achieving more. I would work hard, continue my studies privately and I would wait out that year till I could enlist in 2016. That year in August, I had reunited with my Navy Petty Officer recruiter. I would take more imaging at the hospital and get personal letters of recommendation from my doctors to prove that cancer doesn’t exist in myself any longer. That following December of 2016, my disease of 2011 had taken my chance of joining our military because of the disfigurement in my face that was acquired. I had then stopped my studies of engineering and mathematics, but this was not because of the defeat my cancer had on my military career. I only wanted more. The pursuit of my education was amplified. In 2017 I had taken a job in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and would network around the oil field. I had met many people of many cultures and of many career paths. I would hear the stories of others and I began a desire to create more stories for myself. I then understood that I had wanted to choose a career that would allow me to travel; I began to conduct private studies with electricians and would apply for AVTEC in Seward, Alaska. I got early acceptance and was officially accepted on March 1, 2018.
Organizer
Alyssa Herr
Organizer
Kenai, AK
