Lily Weinbach

Miami Palmetto Senior High alumni Lily Weinbach began her freshman year at the University of Michigan entirely unaware of the obstacles that would test her capacity to overcome them. After graduating from high school in 2018, she looked forward to living in Ann Arbor and enjoying the typical college experience. However, toward the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, Lily began experiencing severe stomach pains that would entirely change the direction of her first year in college. The pains prompted Lily and her family to investigate the source of this discomfort.

“The pains that I felt were so intolerable, so I needed to see what was wrong,” Lily said.

Unfortunately, after performing diagnostic tests, doctors discovered that Lily had colon cancer. Considering her lack of genetic dispositions and the rarity of the disease among young adults, the news came as a complete shock.

The colon removal surgery that would rid her body of the malignant area was the initial step on her road to recovery. It forced her to leave Ann Arbor— as well as her expectations for freshman year — behind and come back home.

“It all happened super fast. I did not expect to have to go back to Miami so soon into the school year, which devastated me,” said.

Although the surgery eliminated the cancer, she made the decision to undergo a six-month chemotherapy session to prevent the possibility of relapse. “The chemo was really bad. I felt sick the whole six months and I was also really upset that I was missing out on everything happening at school,” Lily said. “It was hard to see my friends and everything they partook in, while I was sitting at home, feeling trapped.”

The extension of her journey caused many additional unexpected setbacks. For instance, the chemotherapy prevented her from living in a cold climate, making it impossible for her to go back to Michigan after surgery. Rather than fulfilling her courses and schooling requirements, she chose to prioritize her treatment and repeat her freshman classes the next school year. Determined to improve her physical well-being, Lily demonstrated herself as being willing to reach her goal at all costs.

“I was really practical about everything, not going out when I felt sick and prioritizing my health. I just wanted to

move on to the next step to get better, even if it required extra time spent at home. I thought about the future and what I would soon be able to do and the school year that lay ahead of me,” Lily said.

With this mindset, she showcased her ability to remain positive and keep her head held high, but there inevitably came difficult times in which she needed others. Her family and best friends sat by her side throughout her recovery. Palmetto sophomore Grace Weinbach, Lily’s sister, lived with her at home as she recuperated. Lily remained positive as she endured many treatment sessions.

“Seeing how well she was doing throughout the whole process helped me stay positive,” Grace said. “I did my best to be there for her, especially during the rough days, which sometimes was heavy, but she always had a bright outlook.”

Palmetto alumni Sydney Miller not only acted as a significant player in Lily’s large support system, but also has been her best friend for years. Lily consistently depended on her, regardless of the circumstances.

A SURVIVOR OF

THE UNEXPECTED

“Lily has always been the type of person to want to help others and taking care of her made the process easier,” Miller said. “We were able to laugh and cry together during the hard times and make every milestone special.”

After performing the intense treatment, doctors declared Lily as an officially cancer-free patient, giving her the green light to return to the University of Michigan to fulfill her previous plans.

Her battle against cancer caused her to face remarkable adversities, such as leaving school and the entirety of her chemotherapy treatment. It continuously tested her willingness and disposition. Although she could have made the decision to quit at any time, her fixed positive mindset throughout the process gave her strength to continue fighting. Lily has evolved from this experience unlike any other she had undertaken before. “...It changed everything... I kind of put happiness above everything else because now I’m aware of how quick things can change... Now I have very different priorities,” Lily said.

From the perspective of those who supported and encouraged her throughout her journey, Lily has grown and matured immensely. This obstacle in her life took a toll on her, but helped her in ways as well.

“She is much more confident now, and she is definitely more grateful, but she is still the same person she’s always been,” Grace said. “Her battle against colon cancer distinguishes Lily as a warrior who fearlessly took her future into her own hands.” From this experience, Lily can now reflect on the strenuous journey she underwent, taking vital lessons learned from her battle against cancer and the difficult recovery period. Now, she actively implements them, embracing a new perspective on life. Through the unexpectedly rough times, Lily kept her head held high. She learned how to cope with struggles and now has a new level of maturity to help her in the future.

With her family and friends constantly at her side, supporting her, Lily continues along in her post recovery journey.

Her battle against cancer forced her to face remarkable adversities, such as leaving school and undergoing chemotherapy. It

continuously tested her willingness and disposition.

Miller witnessed Lily in her hardest moments, and can now confidently say that she is the strongest person she knows.

“I could not admire her more as a person and look at her for guidance because she truly knows how precious each moment is,” Miller said. “This journey took a toll on Lily, but clearly made her a much stronger person.”

After experiencing colon cancer and the treatments that went along with it, Lily now believes she can take on any obstacle that comes her way.

“Looking back on what I went through, it was scary and hard at the time,” Lily said. “But taking it step by step and finally recovering makes me feel as if I can do anything I set my mind to.”

Lissette Martinez Feature Editor l.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com Allison Gould Opinion Editor a.gould.thepanther@gmail.com