Tldr: The past year was…a lot. I survived cancer. I graduated from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. And, now, I’ve joined OncoveryCare to improve the lives of fellow cancer survivors.
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A year ago today, I was supposed to be starting my 2nd year as an MBA candidate at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Instead, I was lying in a hospital bed in San Francisco, recovering from a surgery that removed tumors from my spinal cord. My hospital stay stretched to 18 days. When finally discharged, I moved back into my Stanford campus apartment, using a walker, first, and then a cane as I rebuilt my strength.
For 3 months after surgery, I did little except read, rest, and attend a reduced set of GSB classes. I wore a back brace. Classmates drove me to class when I didn’t have the stamina to walk. The first day I walked to class alone felt like completing a marathon (not that I ever have, but you know…).
The pressure of it all overwhelmed me. My recovery was more intense than I imagined, and I struggled with the complexities of sharing my experience in an environment like the GSB. So, I started therapy. Therapy and anti-anxiety medication changed everything: the mix of nauseous dread, lingering nightmares, and heart-racing anxiety subsided.
I have a lot to be grateful for. My surgery was a success, with few long-term neurological impacts. My tumors weren’t aggressive enough to warrant more intense treatment, like chemotherapy or radiation. I need periodic surveillance scans, but the chance of recurrence is low. I’m lucky and grateful.
Somewhere along the way, I came across Hil Moss's story. We had a lot to talk about. Hil had a similar diagnosis while pursuing an MBA, and, now, she’s building OncoveryCare to improve the lives of cancer survivors. Hil helped me realize something I already intuitively knew: even if my treatment was over, my life was changed. I don’t like to think of the change as for the better or worse, just change. Like many survivors, I needed support to manage the lingering physical and mental effects of my treatment—things like the therapy that so fundamentally changed my recovery.
So, I’ve joined OncoveryCare as Chief of Staff, building a survivorship care model that truly transforms the lives of cancer survivors.
Co-Founder/CEO of OncoveryCare, helping survivors lead happier, healthier lives | Cancer Survivor | Healthtech | MBA/MPH
2wSuch a treat to be part of such a great day!