When I was fifteen, I was diagnosed with the highest stage of Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma, stage IV B. Within 24 hours of being diagnosed I had a chemo
port placed, a bone marrow biopsy, and a lymph biopsy, and started an
experimental stage chemotherapy because there was not exactly a
treatment for my stage of disease. This experimental chemo had this one
drug that took music away from me…Vincristine. This chemo drug made
me lose sense of feeling in my fingertips, which lead to neuropathy.
This caused me to have delayed reflexes, which eventually diminished to
zero reflexes, and cause horrible pain in my hands and arms.
At this time of my life, I was a sophomore in high school sitting third
chair in the top Symphonic wind ensemble. I beat out seniors and
juniors for my spot and was loving music. Because of the pain and loss
of reflexes, it was extremely difficult to play my clarinet. This pain
is what got me through my illness. I wanted to be able to play again.
Sports, and music had been taken away and those were the things that
mattered most in my life.
Eventually about six months after chemo, this pain lessened, and I was
able to play again. After that months of not being able to play, lets
just say I was not on top of my game. Practice makes perfect, right?
That is exactly what I did. Practice, practice, practice. Now, as a
senior in high school, I am sitting first chair in that wind ensemble,
have made it into three state honors bands, including the highest honor
band in the state of Ohio, and am one of three students taking
International Baccalaureate Music at my 1,700 student high school,
which blesses me to be able to have the education of a first year
college music major.
Through all of this, I have learned not to waste a day, and my love for
music has vastly increased.
Along my journey, I have made many friends, one of them being Lauren
Shunkwiler, who is a guitarist. When she was seventeen, she was
diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Now, at the age of 19, she is
attending Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio as a biochem major. She has been
a complete inspiration, not only to pick up the guitar again, but she
has shown me that despite everything I have been through, there is
always a silver lining. That no matter what, anything I want in life is
possible. She made me realize that the saying about reaching for the
moon, and if you fall it is okay because you might catch a star, is
completely true. The Blue Star Connection has allowed me to have my own
guitar to take away to college with me so I never have to stop playing
again, and have given Lauren and myself the opportunity of a lifetime
with these guitars.

I sure want to thank Mr. John Catt for allowing me to have this
opportunity, along with the staff of The Guitar Center in Youngstown,
Ohio. All of you have been amazing, and have sure given us a day to
remember, along with a life time of music.

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is
impossible to remain silent” – Victor Hugo