When I think about living life to the fullest, I think about my cousin Peyton, a girl who got diagnosed with cancer and an autoimmune disorder at just 24-years old. Peyton has been such an immense role model for me growing up, and she continues to be as we pray for her every day.

Growing up, I did not see my cousins a lot, but, when I did, it was like I had seen them an hour before. Even with a large age gap between us, I didn’t seem to notice it. Peyton always made it effortless. We played card games together at family gatherings for hours, and the adults always knew that “the kids” were off playing games. She treated me the same. When I decided I was going to try softball my sophomore year, Peyton helped me learn how to throw a ball and swing a bat. She was at my games as much as she could be, supporting me and cheering me on.

In late November of 2024, my family went on vacation. On the drive back home, I was listening to music when I saw my mom wiping her eyes. I took my headphones out, realizing my mom was crying. She never cries. I was waiting for her to speak, but it was hard for her to form words. I asked her, “What’s wrong?” She took a breath and said, “Peyton is in the hospital.” My younger sister bombarded my parents with questions. I couldn’t even seem to comprehend what was going on. I put my headphones back in and listened to music, watching the world fly by as we drove home.

Later that week, we discovered that Peyton did not have an ulcer like she had previously believed, but had cancer. To make things worse, the doctors discovered she had an autoimmune disorder called primary sclerosing cholangitis, a liver disease where all the bile ducts become narrow or blocked, allowing bile to pile up causing extreme liver damage. This had caused her bile ducts to be even more compromised, making her more susceptible to bile duct cancer. Because of this, they were unable to treat my cousin for her cancer. Her autoimmune disorder had caused a tumor on her liver that was too big to remove. They would have to treat that, before they could start treating her cancer.

I felt lost. How could I be losing a big role model in my life? It felt like it happened overnight. My mom went to visit her the week after we learned what happened. She told Peyton that she would take her place in a second if she could. All my cousin said back to my mom was, “I don’t Auntie. I’ve got this.” When my mom told me that story, I realized that even though Peyton was scared, she had hope for her circumstance, and was going to fight this to the best of her ability.

Doctors are still unable to treat my cousin for her cancer because they are continuing to shrink the tumor on her liver. The cancer is spreading to other parts of her body, and we are waiting for the time when they are able to treat her. My cousin Peyton continues to be a huge role model for me as I grow into a young adult. She is fighting and taking advantage of every moment she has with her family and friends. I have never been one to do things with a will. But, I go to school, excited. I go to practice, thankful. I spend time with my family, a blessing. There are people in hospital beds who wish they were in your shoes. So do it tired, do it exhausted, do it sad. Peyton has changed my life in so many ways and I will continue to pray for her every day.

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