You know those moments that they tell you are “life defining” or that “change your life forever?” For example … the day you graduate high school, your first car, when you get arrested for underage drinking and your dad has to pick you up from the police station (oops, sorry – probably shouldn’t have mentioned that one), your first broken heart, the day you get married, the first time you hold your child in your arms and all those other times that make you pause and catch your breath. I’ve had all kinds of “life-defining” moments but out of all of them, when they told me my 15 year-old daughter had cancer, that was truly the moment in my life that I thought could never happen to me. Megan was your typical teenager... friends, boyfriend, sports and just finishing her freshmen year when she was diagnosed. She went through three months of chemotherapy, lost all her hair (a huge deal for a teenage girl), 14 days of radiation and then through this battle we heard those glorious words "You are in remission." Megan's journey doesn't end there. She starting telling her story to audiences throughout the state for Phoenix Children's Hospital. I'll never forget the first time she took the stage... she stood in front of 300 teenagers and removed her wig. My heart skipped a beat. I was frightened that they would laugh or make fun of her and at the same time proud of how strong she was to do something so bold.But that's not what happened... you could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium. They were riveted by her story. If that wasn't enough, she began mentoring other teens going through treatment for cancer. Her courage and determination are off the charts. I couldn't be more proud of her. Every day she reminds me what a great young lady she is. She is now, and forever will be, my hero!

Signed,
Andee Oleno