Wish Alumni Then & Now Feature – Sawyer

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear."

We all have a story or two that define our lives and create opportunities for deep self-reflection. For me, that story began when I was 16, a week before I was to start my junior year of high school. After weeks of being very sick, I was diagnosed with a type of childhood blood cancer called Acute Myeloid Leukemia with a rare genetic mutation FLT3 making it difficult to treat. The treatment for the type of cancer I had was extremely intense, excruciatingly long with horrible side effects. I had to dig deep within myself to find the strength, positive outlook and determination to endure the year ahead.  Instead of spending my junior year surfing, lifting weights at the gym and preparing for college, I found myself challenged to simply survive. The months of inpatient chemotherapy, radiation, blood transfusions, long periods of isolation and eventually an intense bone marrow transplant left me with lots of precious time to reflect on my life.

I had to choose between two competing thoughts: fear or hope.
Fear would rob me of the joy and the gifts that were still open to me, even while being faced with the uncertainty that cancer creates.
Hope would allow me to embrace the joy and the gifts that perhaps I was not even aware of before cancer became my reality.
There was only one choice, and that was hope. Looking back on that time, I realize that the knowledge and wisdom I gained from my experiences could never have been taught in a classroom. My goal was not merely to survive, but to thrive and make a difference in the world around me.

I had always valued my health and spent time and energy making healthy choices in regard to food and fitness. I realize that what I had previously learned about nutrition, physical fitness and personal strength helped me to become an active part of my own healing. I completed extensive research on natural therapies to help my body, mind and spirit heal from this disease and I self-implemented a strict diet protocol to assist my body in eventually eliminating cancer and preventing it from returning. My experiences during these years changed me in many ways. The process allowed me to appreciate the need for funding research and finding cures to these often life-ending diseases. It allowed me to connect with and witness the amazing courage of other children and young adults, some of whom lost their battle to this disease. I met others who were struggling to create a healthier lifestyle and mindset. I have realized that my goal is to help others recognize their own innate ability to support their healing journey through smart nutritional choices, developing physical and mental strength and creating healthy life changes.