"For Nathan"

By Kayleigh Hoercher - VHR ALL Survivor

I created this painting in memory of my neighbor, Nathan, who was diagnosed with cancer the same month I was. He finished treatment and was cancer-free after two years, but it came back a year later. After three more years of fighting, he lost his battle with Neuroblastoma at just 16 years old. His death deeply affected me.

I wanted my painting to show the emotions of kids who have passed away-the angels who watch us living our lives while missing out on the ones they should have had. This angel represents all the children who didn't get to grow up, who should still be here laughing, learning, and living the lives that cancer took away.

Recently, another girl from my town, Savannah, who had her leg amputated because of cancer, was diagnosed with a new cancer-Acute Myeloid Leukemia-caused by one of the chemotherapies she received. Watching her fight again has been really hard. It makes me question why I survived when so many others didn't. I feel grateful, but also heartbroken.

This painting is for those who didn't get to stay-for remembering them and carrying their stories forward. My story went a different way, but it's not because I fought harder or had more support. Their lives matter. A cure for cancer could have changed everything. Nathan would still be alive. Savannah would be healthy.

Thank you for donating to childhood cancer research. I hope this helps find a cure-so no child has to go through what we did.