Welcome to My Personal Page
Dear Family and Friends,
I am excited to be participating in the 2024 Rutgers University Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon is a Rutgers tradition like no other and I am so proud to be involved with this incredible organization.
RUDM raises funds to support Embrace Kids Foundation, a New Brunswick non-profit that provides programs and services to children with cancer, blood disorders and other serious health challenges throughout the greater New Jersey area, at absolutely no cost to the family. These support services address the families’ needs as a whole including social services, counseling, financial assistance, health education, inspirational events and more.
Why this cause is important to me...
I was in seventh grade and happier than ever as it was finally time for Thanksgiving break, when I got home from school that day things took a turn for the worse as I learned my older brother was sent to the hospital. I had no idea what to think but, I didn't expect what was to come. The following Sunday I heard the words that would forever change not only my brother's life but as well as my whole family's. He was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, instantly everything changed so quickly I wasn't even sure what was going on around me. My family was split in two as my brother was fighting for his life in the hospital with my mom by his side meanwhile, I had to hold the house down watching after my little brother as my dad often had to work. After months of treatment, he was ready for a bone marrow transplant, I had no clue what that even was but if it was a way to help my brother I was willing to do anything. I got swabbed to see if I was a possible match and a few weeks later a miracle happened, I was a 100% match. I was overwhelmed and so excited at the same time that I was finally given the opportunity to help him. I went through a month of quarantine in preparation for the transplant and on February 28, 2018, I had my bone marrow extracted. Following the success of the transplant my brother was finally in remission. It was only about a year and a half later when things started to take a turn for the worse yet again.
I was beginning my freshman year of high school, so excited to be in school with my older brother and talking about how excited we both were to drive to school together once he got his license. Unfortunately, we did not get that chance as the cancer was back and my life quickly began to look like what it did only a year prior. After months of treatments and other obstacles being thrown at him, he was ready for a second transplant. However this time, they were not using mine, I felt so helpless and scared because finding a match was difficult, and knowing that I could no longer help him terrified me. Luckily through the organization "Be the Match" they were able to find him a donor. Since the transplant, he had to still overcome obstacles and it almost felt as if it was never-ending. I hated seeing my best friend go through this, no person, no child, no one deserves to go through this battle. After months of other illnesses and complications, he finally reached some type of normalcy. He was cancer-free and trying to move on from such a traumatizing part of his life and focus on the future.
Since this experience, I found an extreme amount of importance in spreading awareness for organizations and fundraising events like RUDM. After being in that family and experiencing it first hand it's organizations like this that can truly impact your life in such a positive way during such a dark time. Please consider donating, as it can make the hard times these families are going through just a little easier.
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