“The things that make me different are the things that make me, me.” – Winnie the Pooh
From the moment Shelly first heard her diagnosis at just 8 years old, her world shifted in ways she never expected. What began as a simple ache in her foot soon became a journey filled with challenges, resilience and transformation. Today, years later, Shelly looks back on that journey with gratitude – not because it was easy, but because it shaped the person she is and the person she hopes to become. Her story is one of strength, courage and finding purpose through adversity.
Discovering the Unexpected
In January 2014, Shelly was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. She remembers the crayon in her hand pausing mid-stroke as the word cancer filled the room. She had been coloring a Winnie the Pooh page in a conference room at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital when her parents’ calm expressions turned to concern. Fear rose within her, but her family wasted no time partnering with her care team to form a plan of action.
Facing Treatment with Strength
Shelly and her mom spent weeklong stays in the inpatient unit receiving chemotherapy. After a year of treatment with no change in the tumor, her doctors determined that amputation was the best path forward. Recovery took three to six months before she could receive her prosthetic. During that time, physical therapists helped her maintain strength and mobility in her other muscles.
Treatment meant giving up many parts of a typical childhood. Temperature checks could send her to the emergency room. There were long trips for appointments and evening at-home lessons from her teacher. But Shelly found comfort in small joys – Food Network marathons, Animal Planet, painting her nails and making bracelets. Child life, music therapy and art therapy programs helped turn difficult days into manageable ones. Her nurses and doctors brought laughter during painful moments and created an environment where she felt safe and supported. Through it all, her sister, Kelly, was her biggest motivator, encouraging her to stay active and hopeful.
Learning to Embrace Her Differences
As she grew older, Shelly struggled with confidence and self-image, especially while navigating life with a prosthetic foot. Over time, her perspective began to shift.
“I learned to be confident not in spite of my differences, but because of them,” said Shelly, a Four Diamonds young adult.
Although her family stayed private during her treatment years, Shelly now finds meaning in sharing her experiences. Cancer reshaped her perspective, teaching her compassion and the value of a strong support network. Each return visit to the hospital reminded her of the people who cared for her with such kindness. Their impact inspired her career path and strengthened her desire to help others – just as her physical therapists once helped her.
Finding Purpose Through Her Story
Today, Shelly is combining her childhood cancer journey with her studies in exercise science as she works toward her goal of becoming a physical therapist in 2029. She is learning how movement can transform long-term health – not only for the general population, but for childhood cancer patients and survivors specifically. She believes physical activity can empower survivors in meaningful ways.
Shelly wants other survivors to know that cancer does not have to define them in a negative way. Instead, it can shape who they become in powerful and purposeful ways. For her, that meant discovering a passion for physical therapy because it played such an important role in her own treatment and recovery.
“Cancer has certainly defined my life, but not entirely in a negative way. There have been positives to discover among the difficulties,” said Shelly.
A Journey That Comes Full Circle
Shelly’s life is a testament to resilience, identity and purpose. What began as an unexpected and frightening diagnosis became the foundation for her future, and her experiences now guide her as she prepares for a career centered on helping others. Her story reminds us that the things that make us different can also become our greatest strengths.