LEXINGTON, Ky. — Hannah Everett's journey from pediatric cancer patient to nurse is complete, but her fight to improve care for young people with the disease is just beginning. The University of Kentucky College of Nursing graduate, who survived Hodgkin's lymphoma twice, is channeling her personal experience into patient advocacy as she embarks on her nursing career.

Everett was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in December 2017 at age 13 and completed three rounds of chemotherapy before being declared cancer-free. The disease returned her sophomore year of college in May 2024, this time as stage three cancer that had spread to lymph nodes in her jaw, armpits, chest and hip. She received treatment at Norton Children's Cancer Institute in Louisville while pursuing her nursing degree in Lexington.

During her internship at the UK Golisano Children's DanceBlue Hematology-Oncology Clinic, Everett experienced a profound moment of recognition when staff organized a bell-ringing ceremony to celebrate her treatment completion—a milestone she never received as a patient. The ceremony, arranged by nurse Natasha Welch, profoundly affected Everett. "It brought me to tears. It was one of the most special moments of my entire life," she said. Everett later nominated Welch for The DAISY Award, an international recognition program honoring nurses who go above and beyond in their care, and Welch received the honor.

Throughout her final year of nursing school, Everett balanced clinical work, blood draws and frequent medical appointments while remaining immunocompromised. She drew strength from support services including UK's Disability Resource Center and accommodating faculty members who modified her coursework as needed. "My professors were very, very accommodating. I was offered extra help. They made a huge difference," Everett said.

Beyond her clinical work, Everett contributed to research alongside fellow nursing students Marissa Sautkas and Lara Kuglin under mentor Morgan Chojnacki, D.N.P. The team investigated quality of life and self-advocacy for pediatric cancer patients, adapting a tool called "The F-Words for Child Development" that encourages conversations about functioning, family, fitness and fun. The clinic has adopted the resource to support patient care. The research was presented at the recent Center for Clinical and Translational Science Spring Conference.

Everett will graduate this semester with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has also received the University of Kentucky's Maurice A. Clay Award, given to one exceptional graduating senior from each academic college. As she begins her career, her experiences shape both how she approaches patient care and the wisdom she hopes to impart to others fighting similar battles.

"Not necessarily worrying about the what ifs," she reflected on her approach to life. "Because that's not something that you can count on. And it's way more important to focus on what's concrete and what's going well in the moment."