This post is written by Anna, a patient, and sponsored by HealthOne Denver.
When I was 15, wow, was I busy. As a high school athlete, I juggled basketball, lacrosse and flag football as a freshman. But that spring, my right shoulder hurt. It was painful and wouldn’t go away. I thought I was overusing it. I put ice on it, I put heat on it, I took ibuprofen, but nothing touched the pain at all.
My symptoms kept getting worse, to the point that my arm shook while I was putting on
mascara. Or trying to.
My mom and I knew something was not right. My mom pushed and pushed and pushed to get an MRI for me. When I got it, my scan was scarily familiar: ghost bones. My mom and I had seen that before, when our friend was diagnosed with leukemia.
I found out I had osteosarcoma, which is a rare and aggressive bone cancer. Within days, I was sporting a port and starting chemotherapy. Life, as I had known it, changed in an instant.
For the next nine months, HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s became my second
home. My nurses and my doctors became my second family. I practically lived there.
After six months of chemotherapy, I had really complicated surgery in August 2024. Dr. Daniel Lerman, a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the care of patients with benign and malignant tumors of the bone and soft tissue, took out part of my right humerus – my upper arm bone – and replaced it with a titanium rod, a plate and a new joint.
Then it was back to more chemo.
My care team made all the difference. Dr. Jennifer Clark, who has retired, and her successor, Dr. Lara Riegler, are specialized pediatric hematologists/oncologists. Not only did they manage all of my treatment, but they gave me unwavering compassion and support every step of the way.
I love Dr. Clark with all my heart – she always helped me do normal things during treatment. She knew I had tickets to the Taylor Swift concert in New Orleans, and she did everything she could to get me out of the hospital safely and on time. I made it!
One of the hardest parts of chemo was not feeling like myself. But even though I lost my hair, my eyebrows, even my eyelashes, I tried to look for strength in small joys, such as seeing the therapy dogs Lemon and Posey and going to the art therapy sessions where I could make gifts. I also had the unwavering support of my best friend, my school and the team at HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s. They just care so deeply about all their patients.
When I finally got to ring the bell to celebrate the end of chemo, I treated myself to something I’d wanted for ages: a dachshund. I know – I have a weird fixation on wiener dogs. I named her Taylor Allison Swift — after my other favorite obsession.
But my true favorite obsession? Starting my own nonprofit foundation: Anna’s Room.
Every time I was admitted to the hospital, we called it “move-in day.” Mom and I would bring in a mattress pad, sheets, lights, like I was moving into a dorm. It helped reduce my anxiety so much. Through Anna’s Room, I want to give other long-term pediatric oncology patients comfort kits to make their own hospital rooms feel more like home. Through my darkest days, I was able to find light in the people around me. I want to be that light for others.
I have limited mobility in my right arm and can’t play sports anymore, but I’m focused on
moving forward. I’m starting back to school, spending lots of time with my friends, working at Dairy Queen and even going back to the gym.
I’m not the same as I was before. But I’m still me. And I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be.
Pediatric Specialty Care in Denver
HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s – a part of HCA HealthONE, is the ONE you can rely on for high-quality, patient-centered pediatric care for your child. Our pediatric specialists are experienced with all aspects of caring for your child, including treating emergencies, performing minimally invasive surgery on newborns and supporting teens through cancer treatments. We strive to make you and your child feel cared for at every turn. Our compassionate, kid-friendly approach and wide range of specialties make us a destination hospital for many families. Learn more.
