This is an amazing miracle /graduation story. Tanaya Nelson was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 4 Cancer at just 22 months. The cancer affected her memory, hearing, vision and development.
Hurley Children’s Hospital Miracle and CMNH Telethon Star
Many people predicted her future – that the cancer would come back, that she wouldn’t survive, that she would never be able to go to college.
Tanaya proved them all wrong. This Hurley miracle has just graduated from The Lincoln University with a 3.8 GPA and a Bachelor’s of Science Social Work Degree.
1st Generation Graduate – Dean’s List X5 – Phi Alpha Honors Society
#Miracles happen every day @ #HurleyChildrensHospital. She was given hope and a chance – the rest she achieved on her own.
Congratulations Tanaya on your college graduation! You deserve all of the success in the world.
This is her story in her own words:
I recently graduated college on May 7th, 2022 and I’ve been experiencing a range of emotions. My journey through college was definitely not easy at all. In fact my overall journey has consisted of many trials and tribulations but GOD continued to be that anchor that kept me Since the very beginning of my arrival to the world at the tender age of 22 months I was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 4 Cancer. I underwent chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and a stem cell transplant which resulted in me loosing all my cells. This impacted my memory, hearing, vision and my overall development. Most kids at that age would be learning there ABC’s and developing fine motor skills while I was living in the hospital sick, sleeping and hooked to an IV. The Doctors told my mother that she should start preparing my funeral because I wouldn’t live passed 8 years old without the tumor growing back BUT they didn’t know MY GOD has the final say! Won’t he do it 😮💨 despite the odds of what happened to me I still persevered and STILL continued to pursue higher education. I can remember back in elementary school, my first encounter with a nay-sayer telling my mom that she shouldn’t expect much from me educationally because I was “just too behind” but little did they know my mother was my biggest advocate, teacher and cheerleader and she worked SO HARD to make sure that I would catch up to the “normal level” that kids my age are supposed to be at. My mother spent countless late nights and early mornings tutoring me after a long day of work, making sure she gave attention to my sister and had to work on homework assignments and projects with her, making sure dinner was made etc those of you who are moms can relate that a mother’s job is never complete especially with a child that needs special attention due to long term effects of cancer. Moral of that first encounter of my life is that my mother sacrificed so much of her life to give me a chance at a better life which takes a tole on marriages as they eventually diminished. Fast Forward to high school, when I wanted to take college courses while still being a high school student… many counselors and educators stated to my mom and I that I should consider other options because “they” believed college would be too difficult for me to achieve and told my mother that she should encourage me to do a trade instead. I had a discussion with my mom and said I can and will do it and she believed in me and told the school just that. Not only did I complete college courses while still being a high school student I passed those same courses with A’s and B’s! To which those same educators ended up eating their words right on up. Fast Forward to college, I started at different universities and ended up at an HBCU which was the best thing for me. I struggled and had many dark moments, wanted to give up but my faith, family and friends kept me going. I moved away from home and everything I know to come to Missouri to attend The Lincoln University. Now, Here I am 21 years old with a BSW and 18 years Cancer free!! You can’t tell me what MY GOD can’t do!!
Phi Alpha Honors Society Member
Deans list x5
Interned at The HALO Foundation with 513/425 REQUIRED hours
1st Generation Graduate
Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work Degree
Finished College with an overall cumulative GPA of 3.8 at Thee Lincoln University
Since the very beginning of my arrival to the world at the tender age of 22 months I was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 4 Cancer. I underwent chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and a stem cell transplant which resulted in me loosing all my cells. This impacted my memory, hearing, vision and my overall development. Most kids at that age would be learning there ABC’s and developing fine motor skills while I was living in the hospital sick, sleeping and hooked to an IV. The Doctors told my mother that she should start preparing my funeral because I wouldn’t live passed 8 years old without the tumor growing back BUT they didn’t know MY GOD has the final say! Won’t he do it 😮💨
despite the odds of what happened to me I still persevered and STILL continued to pursue higher education. I can remember back in elementary school, my first encounter with a nay-sayer telling my mom that she shouldn’t expect much from me educationally because I was “just too behind” but little did they know my mother was my biggest advocate, teacher and cheerleader and she worked SO HARD to make sure that I would catch up to the “normal level” that kids my age are supposed to be at. My mother spent countless late nights and early mornings tutoring me after a long day of work, making sure she gave attention to my sister and had to work on homework assignments and projects with her, making sure dinner was made etc those of you who are moms can relate that a mother’s job is never complete especially with a child that needs special attention due to long term effects of cancer. Moral of that first encounter of my life is that my mother sacrificed so much of her life to give me a chance at a better life which takes a tole on marriages as they eventually diminished. Fast Forward to high school, when I wanted to take college courses while still being a high school student… many counselors and educators stated to my mom and I that I should consider other options because “they” believed college would be too difficult for me to achieve and told my mother that she should encourage me to do a trade instead. I had a discussion with my mom and said I can and will do it and she believed in me and told the school just that. Not only did I complete college courses while still being a high school student I passed those same courses with A’s and B’s! To which those same educators ended up eating their words right on up. Fast Forward to college, I started at different universities and ended up at an HBCU which was the best thing for me. I struggled and had many dark moments, wanted to give up but my faith, family and friends kept me going. I moved away from home and everything I know to come to Missouri to attend The Lincoln University. Now, Here I am 21 years old with a BSW and 18 years Cancer free!!
You can’t tell me what MY GOD can’t do!!
