Alexis’s story is a story of perspective and how the power of gratitude can impact the course of one’s life – even for a young woman.  Alexis (shown above in the red sweatshirt), is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) double majoring in Mathematics and Mathematics Secondary Education. She is a 2-year captain on the Women’s Lacrosse Team at UWRF where she is fondly known as “Tex”. Following her studies, she hopes to stay in the field of mathematics – hopefully as a high-school Math teacher. Alexis has a depth of perspective that is unique for a sophomore in college and her ability to see life through a lens of gratitude is nothing short of inspiring. So, with that…here is Alexis’s story.

If you asked me what I was grateful for I would say this…

I am grateful for many things, however one thing that I am for grateful for are my sisters. I am thankful that I have siblings that I can go to if I need help or guidance with anything that I need advice for or just to talk about what is on my mind.

My sisters are my forever best friends. I would do anything in my power to protect them from anything that could harm them in anyway. I would and always will stand up for them when they do not have the courage to or when someone hurts them through their words. They have shown me how to be a better person and how to be patient.

My youngest sister has special needs and is unable to walk and talk due to a rare genetic disorder called Hypomyelination with Atrophy of the Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum (also known as H-ABC). She has shown me that complaining about things is simply unnecessary and that I should be grateful for my abilities and embrace them. Through her, I have realized growing up that she will never have the ability to walk or talk like many other people. She is the reason why I try my best to push myself in everything that I do, because I think about how she won’t get the same opportunity to do the things I have done and been doing all of my life. I want to show her that she CAN do them, but in different ways.

It is called being adaptable. Through her I have noticed how you have to be cognizant of the unexpected. One thing I admire about her is her beautiful smile that can change a person’s day instantly. It is something that she spreads endlessly. She has made me realize that there is a lot more to life than to be negative about the things you wish you could control or that do not go your way. I have learned through her that challenges and struggles are real, but it is how you respond to them with an optimistic mindset that determines the positive outcome to change and how to become more adaptable.

My older sister Elise is one of my biggest role models. She is so gracious and kind to everyone she meets. She taught me how to love God and brought me closer to my faith. She never gives up on people and she does everything she can to help others even if they might not deserve it. This has shown me that when people are unkind, it does not make it right to be unkind to them. Her attitude towards life and her accomplishments makes me want to strive to be a better version of myself and to have courage in myself. She reminds me that I should be confident in who I am and to believe in myself in all that I do. I could never thank her enough for always helping me even if she is thousands of miles away living her life in Arizona. I can always count on her and that has shown me how to let others know that I will always be there for them no matter the circumstance.

I value these things, because without them I would not have my best friends there to assist me in times of need. I thank God each day for giving me such kind, intelligent, gorgeous, and truly special sisters. I could not be more grateful, because without them I do not know what I would do, who I would be, or where I would be in life. They are amazing individuals and I wish everyone could get to know them and experience their loving and genuine personalities. I cannot express how many people both of my sisters have touched just through how they are around others and by showing how much they care.  They are some of the most selfless people I know and it truly inspiring. I love them with all of my heart.

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Note: I have known Alexis and her family since we were neighbors 20 years ago. Her story of gratitude was brought to my attention as part of a truly inspiring program happening as part of the Women’s Lacrosse team at UWRF. After speaking with the team’s head coach, Allison Jennings, I learned of some pretty amazing things she and her staff are instituting with the team to help them learn valuable life lessons on and off the field. Gratitude is a huge part of the team’s culture and as a coaching staff, they try to talk about not only internally practicing gratitude but also expressing it. They want to have their student-athletes start to practice expressing gratitude so that hopefully it starts to have an impact on not only themselves but those around them. Kudos to Coach Jennings and the entire Women’s Lacrosse team!

Erin’s story is one of inspiration and true gratitude.  Erin is a board certified and licensed physician assistant, but Job #1 for her is being a mama to a cancer warrior. She hopes to raise awareness and improve treatment options for pediatric cancer. In the meantime, Erin and her son Jack celebrate and enjoy every day.

“The scan is showing ascites not stool like we initially thought” the pediatric ICU doc said as he sat at his desk looking at the CT scan on his computer screen. Suddenly a diagnosis of constipation became instantaneously more serious. “Ascites?!” I repeated, as my physician assistant brain searched back to medical knowledge I learned years ago in graduate school. “He doesn’t have liver issues, so are you telling me my son has a malignancy? Does my son have cancer?” I demanded. The doctor spun around in his chair and met my eyes, an obvious mix of pure sadness and sympathy, but also wonder at the diagnosis I had formulated in just a few minutes time. At this moment my life was over, I was beyond devastated. At nineteen-years-old I lost my mother to cancer and figured that my turn was over and I had suffered enough in this lifetime. Never in my wildest dreams, or worst nightmares, did I ever consider it even possible that my only child would be diagnosed with cancer. I wish I could say this was the worst moment of my life, but six months later, eight weeks after finishing his treatment “successfully”, I was told my son’s cancer had returned. This time I knew it, but I prayed for any other diagnosis except for this. Even a new and different cancer would be more acceptable versus a relapse. This time the prognosis was far more dismal and something I still can’t seem to wrap my head around.

My son is my only baby. I am divorced and aside from some alternate weekends, I largely raised him by myself. He is my true love and my absolute best friend. When I heard his little heart beating, and when I held him for the first time, the hole in my heart that my mother’s death left me with was instantly filled, patched, and painted over. Being a “mama” is the best privilege I’ve ever been given and helped me become the absolute best version of myself. To look in the mirror and be proud of who is looking back at you is a gift in its self.

Watching your child battle cancer, twice, is a really hard journey. I signed consents to procedures and treatments no mother should ever have to consider, and no child should ever have to endure. Today we both still suffer from anxiety that the cancer will return again, which is more than likely a death sentence. At the same time, everything that happened almost feels like a bad dream that isn’t really real, and maybe didn’t happen at all.

My son is now eight-years-old and ten months post salvage chemo, high dose chemo with stem cell transplant, and radiation therapy. I wake up every day grateful. I get to make him breakfast, get him ready for school, and scramble to get to work at a decent time. After a six-month leave of absence I love going to work now. I love fighting with him over what to wear to school while I try to make myself look acceptable at the same time.

Every moment with my son is a gift. Our day–to-day life is beautiful and I feel grateful to have any interaction with him, regardless of how mundane. Taking care of him and loving him is a privilege and frankly an honor. I was tasked to care for a sick child, and with my education and love of medicine prior to this, I know it was always my destiny.

Every night, once he falls asleep at night, after fighting with me over bedtime first of course, I check on him and pause for minute in complete awe. Every night I wonder how I was lucky enough to be chosen to have him. How despite his poor prognosis, I was allowed to keep him. There is no greater moment than this, no need to look to the future, or wish for anything more. This is a moment, every night that I could live in forever.