Pi-ing It Forward for U of I Cancer Center

Hi, my name is Janna Janthapaiboonkajon and I’m a senior BSN student at UIC Nursing and a cancer survivor. During my first year of nursing school, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was after my first year of nursing school and I was afraid of facing the unknowns of treatment by myself, especially if I deferred. Eventually when I had to be intubated, I made the decision to postpone school for a year, but luckily, the lovely community I gained never left my side. I had friends and teachers visit me during treatment, classmates who saved me a seat when I sat in during lectures, and people sending me pictures of the oncology lecture texting "Look, it's about you!".

Cancer took a toll on me physically and mentally. Even after treatment, I had a lot of anxiety and I remember crying before going back to class for the first time. It was a year since I left and I felt like such an imposter with the chemo fog and a new cohort. But throughout the past year, I've made life long friends that I'm honored to call the next generation of nurses and the most compassionate teachers that embodied the true heart of our profession. This fundraiser is truly personal to me because it's not just raising money for the U of I Cancer Center, but a love letter to all the people who make survivorship possible. This is for every act of kindness and the ripple effect it has on those around you. Thank you for making all of this possible! <3

Cancer impacts everyone differently. But whether it’s a friend, loved one, or colleague, the community you gain through the experience is profound and something worth celebrating. It’s the person who sits with you in the waiting room. It’s the nurse who cracks a joke when you’re anxious. It’s the classmate you can lean on when you’re struggling. This Pi Day fundraiser is about community, which is why we’ll be donating to the UI Cancer Center Survivorship program to show that no one goes through this alone. I will be personally matching all donations to the event, and STUCO will be dropping off pies to the Oncology/Hematology clinic at UI Health as well as to celebrate the nurses who help make it all possible.