Kyesia's Fight Against Cancer

Hello! My name is Kyesia Shavers, I'm 26 years old and I am a High school English teacher. It goes without saying that it is, in the very least, very surreal that I am even writing this.

About 3 weeks before my 26th birthday, on September 14, 2016, I was diagnosed with Classic Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system). The lymphatic system helps to fight infection (immune system) and the cancer essentially impedes my body's ability to do so.

Going into Year 26, the LAST thing I expected was incessant Doctor visits, blood draw after blood draw after blood draw and finally, chemotherapy. Going into my 4th year teaching and for the first time having all honors classes, I really wanted to focus on being a GREAT teacher. I had plans on purchasing my first home, but things change.

My outlook on this whole ordeal has been more-so positive. I realized very early on that my current condition and the impending doom that are the effects of chemo are fleeting. And in 6 months, after [hopefully] my last round of chemo, I can get back to the goals that I had. I can go back to being a healthy, happy 26 year old.

So here I am asking for your help. With the cancer itself attacking my immune system and chemotherapy naturally compromising my immune system, my Doctor made it clear that daily interactions with 14, 15 and 16 year olds are simply out of the question. Unfortunately, the public school system doesn't offer paid medical leave and my cancer isn't "aggressive" enough for disability.

Every donation, no matter how little, would help to cover my medical expenses (IVF alone was 7 grand out of pocket), life insurance payments, and other basic living expenses.

When this is all said and done, I just want to be where I was mentally, physically and financially before all this began. Anything helps...

Forever grateful

Kyesia Shavers