Hi, community! My name is Tanisha, I am a close family friend to Queen and her family, who have been navigating this challenging obstacle for the past 3 years. I am humbly asking for community’s help to support the Clayton family while Queen takes on her toughest run yet. To know Queen is to love her, she is respectful, focused, driven and compassionate. She is deeply rooted in community and enjoys spending her time with her close knit, extensive family.

In 2023, at 16yrs old, Queen was diagnosed with Papillary Tall cell thyroid cancer which had been removed surgically. Today we are here with an unfortunate discovery that it has now traveled to the lymph nodes in her neck area and she will undergo a full thyroidectomy to remove the cancerous lymph nodes. This procedure is invasive and will take many hours, until all of the affected area is cleared and safe.

Queen now 19, is attending the University of Regina where she is studying Human Justice to pursue a career as a corporate Lawyer. Her studies have been sponsored by a track and field scholarship from the University of Regina and this would have been her 3rd year attending the university and participating as a sprinter/hurdler for 60m, 200m, 300m and 4x100m relay. Because of her situation, she will need to take a lot of time off. Thankfully her scholarship will be waiting for her next September when she will be able to return to her studies.

The healing time will be 3-6months, much longer than the previous surgery. Her after-care will consist of physio therapy, voice therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, and mandatory daily thyroid medication. Due to these circumstances she will not be returning to her studies in Regina, Saskatchewan, this year and will also have to step back from her most desired calling Track and Field.

Queen was raised in a single parent home, and although her mother did an exceptional job (obviously, look at Queen) her mother will be forced to stop working for the time being to take care of her. Due to the radiation she will need a designated caretaker to help her through this difficult time.