Future #MichiganNurse Uses Personal Battle with Cancer to Fuel Her Nursing Aspiration

The University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) is thrilled to welcome Amari Lemon this fall. Emerging from a 34-month battle with Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, Amari's journey fuels her positive attitude and her mission to make a difference in the lives of children facing cancer.

Transforming Personal Challenges into Personal Aspirations

Amari received her diagnosis in April 2021, which forced her to come face-to-face with cancer—a stark reality for someone with an impeccable track record of health. “I had never been sick before,” Amari said. “When I was admitted to the ER that day, the doctor told me, 'You don't exist in our medical records. There’s nothing.' It was shocking, to say the least, to suddenly be really sick.”

For Amari, the reality of her condition sank in when she began losing her hair about a month into treatment. "One memory that will always stick with me is how my nurse supported me during those vulnerable moments," she shared.

One of Amari’s nurses asked her if she wanted to use a waterless shampoo cap and shared a personal story of when she used it, after a baby had thrown up on her. After washing Amari's hair, the nurse carefully hid the cap so Amari wouldn't see how much hair had fallen out. "Her kindness will always be with me.”

Before this experience, Amari was unsure about her future career path. "I had no idea what I wanted to do," she admitted. However, witnessing the care and compassion from her nursing team opened her eyes to the impact she could have as a nurse.

Connecting Personal Experience to Pediatric Oncology

It goes without saying that Amari plans to use her personal journey to relate to and support young cancer patients. "I understand their fears and can offer practical support, like small remedies that helped during my treatment," she explained.

"Knowing I could help them feel even a little more comfortable makes all the difference."

Her commitment to nursing was further reinforced at home when her mother faced her own battle with cancer. “I got to be her little nurse and help her flush her lines at home. It was my first taste of being a real nurse!” This experience brought her closer to her mother and deepened her desire to be there for others.

"Helping my mom made me realize how much I want to support families through tough times."

Paving the Way for a Bright Future

During UMSN’s Campus Day on March 28, Amari, like so many other future #MichiganNurses, toured the nursing school and met with students and faculty. "We saw what my life would look like if I went to Michigan," she said.

"The anatomy setups and interactive manikins in the Clinical Learning Center offered a learning environment that felt incredibly real. Seeing the anatomy lab with the big screen and a table that showed detailed diagrams was really cool," she said. "It was like being in the heart of revolutionary education."

Beyond the facilities, Amari was impressed by the sense of community and support she felt at UMSN. One standout moment was when a current nursing student reached out to her on Instagram after seeing a post about her visit.

"After UMSN reposted my photo, a sophomore nursing student followed me. I looked at her profile and found out she also had cancer," Amari shared. These connections and shared experiences, along with hearing from faculty who are passionate about teaching and setting students up for success, made Amari feel truly welcome at UMSN.

Looking Ahead to Maize and Blue Dreams

Amari said she’s ready to apply the lessons she learned during her treatment to her studies—in particular, remaining positive and taking things day by day. "These lessons are not just for survival; they'll guide me through nursing school and beyond," she reflected.

Amari is excited to contribute to the UMSN community, which eagerly awaits the positive impact she is set to make.

Welcome to U-M, Amari! Go Blue!