Believe…

in Never Letting Go of Hope

Maria Lopez

I remember the exact day I was diagnosed with cancer, April 12, 2024. I was taken to CHLA for a biopsy. Shortly after the biopsy, I was told I had ALK-positive ALCL lymphoma.

I was shocked and didn’t cry when I heard the news, trying to process everything. As a teen, I shouldn’t be dealing with a cancer diagnosis. At 13 years old, this caught me completely off guard.

Treatment was really difficult, and at times I felt hopeless. Even when I tried to stay positive, there were days when I felt angry, sad, scared, and that was okay too.

Through all those emotions, I remained positive and hoped the day would come when I could ring the bell. Since October 2, 2024, I’ve been in remission. I feel as free as a bird. Since then, I have looked forward to a sense of normalcy, whatever normalcy is.

My experience with cancer taught me how precious life is. I never gave up because I had the love and support of my family and others who helped me keep going. Giving up should never be a choice because there is always hope.

Lymphoma