Sophomore Rory Garber experienced eight weeks in the hospital as a child, she now treasures every moment she spends with her friends and family.

The shedding of tears. The pain she felt. The loss of her hair. After sophomore Rory Garber experienced eight weeks in the hospital as a child, she now treasures every moment she spends with her friends and family.

Dr. Charles Rubin of the University Chicago Hospital diagnosed Garber at the age of three with a form of blood cancer known as leukemia. This type of cancer causes red blood cells to overproduce and enter the bloodstream, conflicting with the body’s normal functions. This year an estimated 47,150 newfound cases of leukemia have occurred in the US alone according to the National Cancer Institute. Garber herself endured weekly chemotherapy treatments to eliminate the cancer. Her mother, Tina Garber, slept at the hospital overnight with her daughter during the time she stayed.

“I wanted it to be me to go through all of the pain. My baby was just way too young and fragile to have to deal with having cancer,” Mrs. Garber said.

Garber doesn’t recall much about the whole ordeal, but she remembers her hair falling out because of the chemo treatments.

“It really didn’t bother me that I had no hair. I got to buy a whole bunch of adorable hats to wear instead,” Garber said.

Garber’s health condition prevented her from traveling to Disney World as her family does almost every year for her birthday at the age of four, so she wrote to the Make-A-Wish foundation. The foundation has made the dreams of children who have terminal health issues happen since 1980 and continue their work today. They granted Garber’s wish.

“I was very grateful to be taken back to a place that I have so many memories from,” Garber said.

Despite the health struggles that hindered her as a child, Garber recuperated and now aspires for a career as an artist after attending college or to at least hold a job where she could implement her love for drawing. She enjoys drawing realistic people in her spare time, but  claims her style doesn’t fit into one particular category. Garber hopes she can work on a creative design team for Disney when she becomes older and qualified for the job.

“I started drawing when I was young because my body really wasn’t able to handle other things like sports. It was something easy and fun I could just do anywhere I wanted,” Garber said.

She has made some lifestyle changes because of her health condition, such as becoming a vegetarian.

“People might think it’s weird that I am a vegetarian, but it doesn’t bother me. I don’t care about what other people think of me as long as I’m healthy,” Garber said.

Garber belongs to the American Cancer Society and was featured on a billboard ad at a younger age. The display, located in Louisville, Ky., pictured Garber when all of her hair grew back in and she regained her health.

“Many people can’t say they have been on a billboard before, so I guess that was one good thing that came out of my situation,” Garber said.

Garber overcame cancer in the third grade and continues her normal life as a 16-year-old high school student.

“I am so thankful that I was able to recover and still be here with all the amazing people that I get to be with every day,” Garber said.