Neither of my parents were able to complete high school, and their dream was that I go to college. My dad always wanted me to be a teacher. When I was in elementary school, he got colon cancer. Every year after that, with each clean exam, we could breathe a little deeper. And then it happened, just when he reached the 8 year mark, when we thought he would be cancer-free, they found the metastasis to his liver. I was 16 years old.
Years later, my mother and I cried when we heard on the radio that they had found an amazing treatment for colorectal cancer that might have saved my father’s life. One less person that will have to go through this, we said.
My dad didn’t make it until I graduated high school, but he did go with me to my interview at my dream college. All through my studies, I knew if I could just keep one person from suffering the way my dad did, it would not be in vain, which lead me to go into research for those with familial cancer and cancer prevention. And I did become a teacher in a way. I am a professor, training the next generation of researchers. I march for my father, for all the new discoveries to make our lives better, and for my 5-year-old daughter who is just discovering science.
Kim Kelly
Morgantown, WV
Addendum: My mother did go on to get her GED and take college classes. Even though they did not have the opportunities that I did, I was fortunate that my parents valued education.--Kim
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