MY PARENTS WALKED AWAY FROM ME AT THE HOSPITAL WHEN I WAS 13 — MY MOTHER WENT PALE WHEN THE DEAN CALLED MY NAME

deep breath and began.

“Thank you, Dean Morrison. To our distinguished guests, faculty, families, and most importantly, my fellow graduates. Congratulations. We made it.”

Applause and cheers filled the arena.

“When I was 13 years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I remember sitting in that hospital room terrified, wondering if I continue reading …