Teenage Battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma Inspires Life as an Athlete
A body pushed to its limits and the inspiration it would spark
Bildirici’s parents and friends tried to lift up her spirits by visiting her and reinforcing positive thinking. However, she could not shake looking sick - it was devastating to her. “I didn’t want to be forever known as ‘the girl who had cancer” in high school” said Bildirici.
During her second year of high school, her hair had fully re-grown and she was declared cancer-free. She did not even think about her illness other than the two times a year during her follow-up appointments. However, deep down, it was always there with her. “I kept thinking, ‘This happened for a reason’. I need to do something with it, to give back in some way. I just couldn’t figure out how” said Bildirici.
