Meet ASK Kid Michaela
When Michaela reflects on her journey with childhood cancer, she doesn’t just see a past medical diagnosis—she sees her superpower.
Diagnosed with a nephroblastoma (a tumor in her left kidney) in late 2007 when she was just 18 months old, Michaela underwent surgery to remove her kidney followed by six months of chemotherapy. In June 2008, she rang the bell, marking the completion of active treatment. While she was too young to remember ringing that bell, her journey with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation was only just beginning.
Michaela as a baby Michaela's senior portrait
Growing up as an "ASK Kid," Michaela found a second home through ASK's summer camps, holiday events, and education support programs. Whether it was eating s'mores late at night at camp, laughing with staff members like Miss Alma and Miss Jane, or receiving support in school through education plans, ASK was always by her side.
"It’s a home away from home," Michaela shares. "I’m so proud to be an ASK Kid and to have graduated out of the program in a sense, because it’s such a beautiful organization. I’ll forever talk about ASK."
Michaela attending ASK graduation Michaela attending ASK graduation with her mom
Today, Michaela is a thriving junior at North Carolina A&T State University, majoring in Biology with ambitious plans for the future. She aspires to attend dental school to become an orthodontist, with a passion for opening a practice that serves all patients, including children in underserved communities and those with special needs. Driven by her personal experience and love for her family, she has also conducted undergraduate research at UNC Chapel Hill on cell cycle dynamics, focusing her academic passion on cancer and cardiovascular disease research.
As a young adult survivor, Michaela’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. She has navigated the late effects of treatment, learned to advocate for herself in fast-paced college courses by utilizing academic accommodations, and overcome deep personal loss, including the passing of her father when she was 15. Yet, through every obstacle, Michaela remains remarkably optimistic, grounded in her faith, and determined to give back.
Now coming full circle, Michaela returns to volunteer at ASK events and summer programs. She hopes to inspire the next generation of ASK Kids currently in treatment, serving as a bright reminder of what the future holds.
"I remember being in their shoes and looking up to people who had survived," Michaela says. "Volunteering gives a whole new sense of hope because they get to see people who overcame what they’re going through."
When she’s not studying, researching, or volunteering, Michaela loves traveling, trying new foods, shopping, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Michaela’s resilience, big heart, and determination remind us why we do what we do at ASK. We could not be prouder of the brilliant, caring leader she has become!
