Lexi Ribstein's Cancer Journey
- Lexi Ribstein, who went to the hospital after having mild chest pains that lingered for a few days, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at age 16.
- Ribstein and her boyfriend, Riley Holzer, had been dating for roughly eight months when she received her cancer diagnosis.
- Ribstein recently made a TikTok video, which now has over six million views, dedicated to Holzer and their love story amid her cancer journey.
Ribstein, then 16, gave the news to her boyfriend, Riley Holzer, over text because she was staying in the hospital overnight for a biopsy. "I can't imagine being in his shoes receiving that text," she says. "Within the hour he was in the hospital standing right next to me." The first few weeks were the toughest for Holzer. "During his hockey games, you'd see him wiping tears through his helmet, and he's not a crier," Ribstein says. "He avoided meals for the first few days." Unlike what other young couples face, Ribstein's cancer journey tested their relationship in unimaginable ways. "He was at my house or in the hospital with me every day," Ribstein says. "He came home early from a tournament for my first round of chemo.” It also forced them to grow together, closer than ever before, as they went through the highs and lows. "He listened when I was angry or sad. He saw a lot of ugly sides of me, and still made the decision to stick with me," she says. "He is my best friend and I couldn't imagine going through that alone without him." Related: Cervical Cancer Survivor, Hannah Park, Was Shocked After Her TikTok Video Went Viral. "I Never Expected Anything Like That to Happen at All."
Ribstein, now 18, has been in remission since July 2020. She posted a video on TikTok last month dedicated to Holzer, also 18, about how his support helped her get through her cancer journey. That video now has over 6.6 million views, a true testament to their love and what it means to have a selfless and caring partner. "I feel like no matter how we end up in life, together or not, we will always be friends at the least," Ribstein says. "We went through the worst part of my life attached to each other, and I genuinely can't imagine him just not being in my life."
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