In April of 1998 when Amanda was 11 years old, she woke up with a bump on her left calf, which was eventually diagnosed as a malignant tumor called rhabdomyosarcoma. So instead of softball practice, sleepovers and heading off to middle school, she faced a year of intense chemotherapy, numerous surgeries, and weeks of radiation therapy. She struggled through all of the indignities of cancer treatments; the violent bouts of nausea, severe joint pain, terrible mouth sores, complete hair loss and numbing fatigue. Eight months after finishing chemotherapy she had a relapse that required further surgery to remove a significant portion of her calf muscle. She was left with a gaping wound that, because of prior intensive radiation to the area, just wouldn't heal. Daily wound cleansings and dressing changes become a way of life. Infections were frequent, so she often wore a portable intravenous pump that would infuse antibiotics into her arm. She spent much of the next 6 months on crutches.
But in August of 2000, the tumor returned and this time her doctors told her that the only option was to amputate her leg above the knee and to undergo more chemotherapy. This was done in September of 2000 just before her 13th birthday. In addition, a cartilage attacking cancer was found in her chest, requiring surgery to remove part of her rib. This cancer returned in the fall of her freshman year and she had surgery to remove the entire rib and part of her lung.
Amanda continually strove to overcome the challenges created by her illness. She played volleyball for the first time in 7th grade though she was very weak and completely bald from chemotherapy. Always an athlete, she loved playing volleyball because it made her feel normal during her treatments. After the amputation in 8th grade, she was unable to play fully but was able to serve by standing on one leg. In High School she was an honor roll student, vice president of her senior class, a peer advocate and a member of the varsity volleyball team. In 2004 she was named a High School All-American by Sports illustrated and she was awarded both the Donald "Dee" Rowe Inspiration Award and the Discover Card Tribute Award. She is currently a freshman at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.
Amanda is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for organizations that help people with cancer. She is on the Board of Directors of CUREchief and she shares her message of hope by speaking at fundraisers for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, The Tommy Fund, and the American Cancer Society.
Amanda's dedication and spirit have been an inspiration to all that know her or know her story.
