These brave teens got an A in battling the big C.
A group of young cancer patients who graduated high school were honored at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Thursday.
“You have succeeded despite facing adversity that few people can
imagine or overcome,” Dr. Craig Thompson, Memorial Sloan’s president and
CEO, told the 30 graduates.
The beaming grads, wearing caps and gowns, were feted by their doctors
and nurses in a ceremony featuring bagpipes and a bevy of inspiring
speeches.
“This is just the icing on the cake,” said Brittany Marie Zaita, 17, a
Long Islander who is now in remission after receiving treatment for a
rare adrenal cancer.
“It’s like the end of my accomplishments and it’s just the true reward for all that I’ve been going through on this journey.”
The class address was delivered by Tate Keller — who was diagnosed with
a blood disorder known as Kostmann’s syndrome as an infant and is now
planning to attend Case Western Reserve University.
“It's not every day you get a chance to thank people who have saved
your life but today I get to do that,” said Keller, 17, from Merrick,
L.I.
“Memorial has not only kept me healthy, it has helped me realize my
passion in life to research blood disorders and keep kids smiling.”
Anne Marie Cicciu, who teaches pre-K to second grade at the hospital, came to the ceremony to applaud six former students.
Cicciu said it was “overwhelming” to see the teens all grown up and
lamented that many of her former students have lost their cancer
battles.
“The ones that are here, to me, they have made it and they are brave,” Cicciu said.
“It's very emotional.”
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