Hello, my name is Elia, I am 18 and currently I am battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma. About 3 weeks ago, my father went in for open heart surgery and a few days after I went into the emergency room feeling sick, originally thinking it was COVID-19. After getting a negative test back they looked at my chest where they found a large mass on my left side.

With further tests and two biopsies on the mass, it was confirmed I have Hodgkin's Lymphoma which is a cancer relating to the lymphatic system (immune). My doctor believes I am at stage 3 or 4 based on my pet scan results; he believes it has spread to my spleen and possibly bones.

Prior to these results I was planning on going into Santa Fe College where I would be studying to be a neurosurgeon. Due to this being an immune system related cancer I have had to take time off of school because I can not risk getting COVID-19, halting my dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. If all goes well my doctor is hoping for my chemotherapy to be less than 6 months.

After my dad's open heart surgery, it took the majority of the savings we had, and with my diagnosis it is only adding to the financial struggle. With my dad being disabled and my mom taking care of the both of us she will have to remain unemployed. Even after chemotherapy I may have to postpone school longer because the money just is not available.

Hopefully, with this I may be able to help lessen the burden on my family. They have been such an amazing support team and I hate watching them struggle because of my illness.