An Abundance of Inspiration
- Lilly Bumpus, the young cancer survivor who broke the Girl Scout Cookie sales record, has now found her next biggest inspiration: Jane Marczewski, the cancer warrior who earned the golden buzzer for her singing on America’s Got Talent.
- Marczewski was originally scared to share her cancer journey with the world because she didn’t want to become the "sob story" of America’s Got Talent. Now, she’s happy to be inspiring others and touching people with her heartfelt performances.
- Opening up to others about your struggles during a cancer battle can be healing for you and those you share with.
Lilly was originally diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called Ewing sarcoma when she was born, but now the 8-year-old is seven years in remission and living life to the fullest. And since watching Marczewski’s performance, she’s been starting her mornings with an extra pep in her step. (Marczewski performs under the name Nightbirde.)
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“She wants a dance party every morning to your song…so this is now how we start our everyday,” wrote Bumpus’ mother over an Instagram story of her daughter dancing around to Nightbirde’s original song “It’s OK.” 
Bumpus’ mother also wrote that Nightbirde was her daughter’s “biggest inspiration.”
“She watched you show the world it’s okay and because of it….. you’ve made her feel ok too,” she wrote. “We believe in you @_nightbirde . Thank you for being a light to my little girl who shows cancer who is boss everyday since she was born with it.”
Marczewski’s story differs from that of Bumpus, but they both share a fighting spirit and a lot of heart. Marczewski was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer on New Year's Eve in 2019, and she's still fighting for her health. The 30-year-old pop artist had her world turned upside down when doctors found multiple tumors on her liver, lungs, lymph nodes, ribs and spine. They told her she had three to six months to live, but she’s still standing tall and singing proud today.
Management of Metastatic Breast Cancer
In a previous interview with NBC's Brad Johansen, the Ohio native told the anchor, "I can't tell people what will happen, but I can tell people what is possible, I can show people what is possible."
Sharing Your Story
Marczewski was originally scared to share her cancer journey with the world. She didn’t want to become the "sob story" of America’s Got Talent. But after opening up, she’s realized the power of that kind of vulnerability.
"I'm grateful that people don't see me as someone who is just having a pity party. I am also grateful for the impact my story does have because I wouldn't be here at this point without what I have experienced," she told Johansen. "Maybe there would have been another way for me to reach many people, but it would never be what it is. But it possibly wouldn't have meant as much, and my song would never hit as hard had it not been coming from someone who really has been lost. So, in the end, it's all worked out for good."
Kate Hervey is another cancer warrior who has touched many people by sharing her story. A young college girl, she was shocked to be diagnosed with synovial sarcoma after seeing her doctor for tenderness and lumps in one of her legs. This is a rare type of cancer that tends to form near large joints in young adults.
Being diagnosed with cancer as a young person during the COVID-19 pandemic has its ups and downs.
Hervey, a nursing student at Michigan State, had to handle her cancer battle during the COVID-19 pandemic and scale back on her social activities as a high-risk patient. That's when she turned to TikTok as a creative outlet, and inspired thousands.
"One thing that was nice about TikTok that I loved and why I started posting more and more videos is how many people I was able to meet through TikTok and social media that are going through the same things," she says. "I still text with this one girl who is 22. If I'm having a hard time, I will text her because she will understand. As much as my family and friends are supportive, it's hard to vent to someone who doesn't know what it's really like."
Hervey is now cancer-free, and says she couldn’t have done it without the love and support of her TikTok followers.
"I feel like I've made an impact on other people and they have made an impact on me through TikTok, which is crazy to say. I can help people go through what I've been going through as well." She has graciously agreed to allow SurvivorNet to use her content in order to help our community.
So while auditioning for the nation’s biggest talent search or creating videos for 40,000 followers on Tik-Tok might not be your thing, it’s important to consider opening up to others about your struggles during a cancer battle. Even if it’s with a smaller group, you never know how much the support can help you or help those you share with unless you try.
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