Victoria Glosson found out she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma when she was in her third semester of nursing school.
A diagnosis like this would deter a lot of people from continuing their medical education, especially when it would take them to the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. But not Victoria! She received treatment for more than a year and a half, all while continuing her nursing program.
“I was determined to get through. I had to get Neulasta shots after chemotherapy to keep my white blood cell counts up. Those shots hurt, and it was like every bit of your bones were breaking,” she said. “At times, my dad would have to drive me to clinical. … I had to be strong so the patients I was taking care of didn’t see my pain.”
Not only did she complete nursing school with flying colors, but in February, she was also given the best news: She is cancer-free!
“I was ecstatic and in shock at first,” she said. “This was such a long battle for me, and I couldn’t believe we finally got to the end of it. I had to go through so much, and to reach this point was incredible.”
So she chose Valentine’s Day as the perfect moment to share the news with her dad, Sheriff Barry Glosson. She had him put in headphones and play loud music while he attempted to read her lips.
She continued to quietly say, “I’m cancer-free,” while her dad tried to uncover the secret.
Finally, he got it! The second he figured out what she was saying, he unleashed the biggest of celebrations, jumping up and down, cheering, and running to hug his wife.
“I was overwhelmed with joy and very excited,” Barry said later. “I saw my daughter go through the toughest battle of her life. … It was so scary to watch my daughter live this nightmare. The happiness in my heart is indescribable.”
See the sweet dad in action in the video below, and share this story to lift someone’s spirits today.
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