Cancer survivor finds meaning in life

February 2, 2009 by Grace Funcion 

Student gives back to the American Cancer Society after illness

What defines one’s life? Is it the shoes one wears, a job or the car one drives? 

Sometimes what defines an individual are past actions—how one reacts to fortunes and misfortunes with their truest colors rising in the face of adversity.

For Maythe Ramirez, it may be the cast on her ankle, her long brown hair or even the engagement ring on her hand.  

Ramirez, 22, survived cancer. In what used to be a death sentence, she has found meaning in her life. 

She speaks with dignity and optimism, sharing her story with willing ears. Her courage speaks for itself and has captured the heart of the American Cancer Society. 

Each year, the American Cancer Society awards cancer survivors $2,500 to assist in college tuition. The society’s Cancer Survivor College Scholarship Program helps both the patient and family overcome the financial burden of cancer.

In 2008, the American Cancer Society in Nevada awarded nine young survivors with scholarships.  The possible lifetime award is up to $10,000 per student, offered in increments of $2,500 per academic year.

Ramirez received the $2,500 American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors College Scholarship two years in a row.

A senior at UNLV, Ramierz is majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was 16 years old. 

“Most of the time you hear younger children and older adults diagnosed with cancer,” Ramirez said. “Not teenagers. At that point in their lives, they’re going through their own life transitions, peer transitions, their own physical transitions.” 

“Having cancer just makes it more hectic, harder and more of a struggle.”

When Ramirez was diagnosed, she kept it a secret from her friends until after treatment. 

“You can’t hide a scar on your neck,” she said. “Of course they were upset, but it [was] my struggle, I didn’t want to burden them with it.”

However, Ramirez sees light in dark situations. 

“There were different stages of life-threatening illnesses [I went through],” Ramirez said. “But once you tackle it on your own, once I told [my friends] finally, I saw a positive motivation.”

“Beat cancer, get past it and you can surpass anything,” she affirmed

Because of her struggle with cancer, Ramirez was eligible for the American Cancer Society scholarship. 

“It really helped out a lot,” Ramirez said. “The first two years of college were hard. I had to work, but I also had lupus.” 

After being told she couldn’t work and had to pay for tuition out of pocket, she needed help and found it in this scholarship.

Ramirez, thankful for the support the society provided her, now donates her time to volunteering.

Paulette Anderson of the American Cancer Society said, “after receiving the scholarship, [Ramirez] saw a way to give back. She can utilize the money for [her] education, but [in] her spare time, give something back [to} us.”

“This organization gives back to the community,” Ramirez said, now a spokesperson for the ACS. “You can see where donations go.”

The ACS sets up cancer resource centers in various hospitals with information, nutritional supplements and help for both those fighting cancer and their caregivers.

She admited, “I lost hair. For a lot of women, losing hair [is] the worst part of having cancer. In these resource centers we personally give out free wigs, hats and turbans.”

The ACS is a nonprofit organization helping young adults like Ramirez. This year they awarded seven scholarships in Nevada alone. 

“Higher education is expensive,” Anderson said. “Seven people applied for the scholarship and seven people got it. We know there are more than seven people who have cancer in Nevada.”

Ramirez added that those who are eligible can reapply for the scholarship however often as they find necessary.

Now, without worrying about funding her education, Ramirez can celebrate being cancer-free for six years.

“Cancer is sad and depressing, but I do not think of it that way,” she said. “I’m a firm believer that if you feel a certain way, your body will react that way. If you’re positive, if you think and know your going to surpass it, you’re body’s going to feel positive in spirit and mind.”

Ramirez’s story is an optimistic one shining with inspiration, telling all young adults suffering from cancer that there’s a chance and that there are resources available. 

The ACS is now accepting applications for the Cancer Survivors Scholarship through February 20. 

ON THE WEB:

American Cancer Society: cancer.org