2026 – Hadlee Matern – Viewmont HS

Cancer is a thief

Cancer is something that I am all too familiar with, while I have never had cancer I have been surrounded by it my entire life. At 18 months old my dad was diagnosed with a tumor and stage 4 cancer in his brain. Tumors, platelets, cancer, hospice, words I think no toddler should know. He fought a battle for almost 4 years before it was his time to go. At five years old, two weeks before I started kindergarten, my daddy was dead. I grew up my whole life knowing things others my age didn’t and having to face the sad looks and ignorant questions from other kids and even adults. I knew how to deal with it from a young age. While my education has never really been impacted by this my social life and mental health has. Teachers would call and single me out in class and ask questions about cancer. My brother would get brought to the father activities and for my senior night just weeks ago, the pity in peoples eyes when only my mom walked me out instead of both parents like everyone else. I won’t lie. It is hard and it sucks. It makes every day just that much harder. Starting my schooling my dad died and almost like cancer was wanting one last cruel way to end off my public schooling it took my grandpa who was also my father figure from me just weeks into my senior year. My mindset is that I know they loved me and that is all I ever knew from them. I think about how strong I have become from these challenges. Death is not something you can really do anything about other then let yourself feel your emotions fully and completely. I will be honest, it is still hard for me everyday and it does not get easier. However, I have gotten stronger. Having a single mother, feeling left out from my peers, and the longing of a parent are things that I would not wish on my worst enemy. I have grown up as a person because I have had to. While I wish my life was different in these aspects, I am incredibly grateful for the courage I have developed.