Freshman year is an important time of self-development. However, for senior three season athlete Maddie Collins, freshman year was spent almost entirely in the hospital. Collins fought AML Leukemia incredibly hard to get to where she is today: a captain of two of her three varsity sports.
“It was the last week of August at [club] basketball and volleyball tryouts and I was unable to complete the tryouts,” Collins said. “The first week of school I wasn’t able to walk the length of the school without having to take several breaks.”
Collins realized she had fatigue, trouble breathing, weight loss, and a cough, which caused her to get a full blood workup.
“The blood work was supposed to be back in two weeks, but I got a call that night and it said I had to be rushed to the emergency room,” Collins said.
That was when Collins learned she had AML leukemia and would spend the next six months in the hospital at standard (which is considered medium) risk, while undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy.
Although it was a long battle, Collins received a lot of support.
My friends and family, my mother, father, and brother obviously supported me, and all the cards I received from my loved ones,” Collins said.
“I simply couldn’t imagine not being able to play [sports]. It was a dark time for me. I decided that I had to find a way to deal with this,” Collins said. “I reminded myself that lots of people have bad stuff happen to them, some of it even worse than what I was going through. Feeling sorry for myself would only make things worse.”
Collins gained her positivity, and reached her goal of being treated by spring to return to school, while she anxiously awaited her return to sports.
Sophomore year, Collins made the JV volleyball and basketball teams and varsity softball team.
“It was a sense of accomplishment,” Collins said. “I wouldn’t say I had a hard time because I had all my supporters and myself to motivate me to keep my spirits up.”
Collins played all three varsity sports junior year and is now captain of the volleyball and softball teams senior year. Collins believes her return represents how far she has come, with thanks to her teammates’ and coaches’ support.
“I’ve gained a family and a whole support group,” Collins said.