Childhood cancer survivor returns to Valley Children's to help kids on medical journeys

MADERA, Calif. (KFSN) -- At property 10, Chelsea Harkness learned she had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

"My beingness changed wholly successful that infinitesimal of diagnosis," Harkness said.

For the adjacent 2 and a fractional years, Harkness underwent chemotherapy astatine Valley Children's Hospital, a play that reshaped her puerility arsenic she navigated aggravated aesculapian treatment.

"I would suffer each my hair," she said. "I wouldn't beryllium capable to spell to school; I would beryllium homeschooled. I couldn't play the sports I wanted to play. I couldn't spot my friends arsenic often due to the fact that I had a debased immune system."

During that time, Harkness said her attraction squad became a root of airy and stability, supporting her done the uncertainty of treatment.

"They helped signifier who I americium today," she said. "I loved my doctors, nurses and everyone that took attraction of me, everyone that I interacted present with astatine the hospital."

Years later, Harkness has returned to Valley Children's successful a caller role, 1 she describes arsenic a full-circle moment.

In 2024, she became the manager of George's Idea Lab, wherever she works with wellness attraction professionals to place challenges related to aesculapian devices oregon procedures and research imaginable improvements.

"Even the smallest things tin marque the biggest impact," Harkness said. "If there's thing that tin marque a process a small quicker, wounded a small little oregon get them location to their family, their beds, their pets a small sooner, past that's a truly large deal."

Harkness said the enactment continues to animate her, motivated by her ain acquisition arsenic a diligent and the attraction she received.

"There are truthful galore kids who are connected their travel today," she said. "If I tin play a tiny portion of their greater squad to assistance them on successful their travel and marque it amended successful immoderate way, I'm grateful to beryllium a portion of that."

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