I see myself as an athlete, friend and a voice for courageous kids. Before my diagnosis my only visits to the pediatrician were for yearly shots and I laugh now about how worked up I got about those shots. Life was different then, but through my faith and the support of others my life has changed, but it is the life I was meant to live.
My diagnosis was at the age of 12 and symptoms presented themselves as morning vomiting and double vision. It went away for two months and then I was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma brain cancer on Feb 3rd, 2014.
I am grateful for having a treatment plan that people invested in years before me, and I am raising funds for the families in the future so that they will have better outcomes and more HOPE.
I have passionately been working with my community to bring awareness, support to families and fund research since the day I was diagnosed. When you decide to go public and share your journey that is the day you have started bringing awareness. The stories that I have about how good people are and how they want to help is endless. I am most proud of my alliance with American Cancer Society in that they believe in my mission and adapted my #GoldTogether initiative nationally as of November 2018. All Relay for Life events can have a #GoldTogether childhood cancer team and 100% of the funds raised are dedicated to childhood cancer awareness, support and research. The best part is how we can empower children in their community and there are no limits on what they can accomplish. My motto is “everyone can do something to help kids battling cancer” and this is my way of making it happen.
Currently, I am a senior in High School, and I have been allowed to share my story of how faith got me through the cancer challenges. I hope that this will help kids going through whatever they are facing.
I am grateful and have hope that together, we will see the changes we want to see.
Cole Eicher
Stay in touch through https://www.cancer.org/goldtogether.com
*If anyone reading this has been diagnosed with the APC gene mutation or FAP – reach out to me because one year after my treatment was over I was diagnosed with having the APC gene mutation (it was sporadic and not heredity related for me) and it resulted in having my colon removed. I had a wonderful surgeon and do not have a colostomy bag. I was able to return to the active lifestyle I had before and would be happy to help anyone who is facing this situation.
