By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

The diagnosis was devastating - stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"I was only 21," Ednecia Nelson said. "Nobody thinks they'll get cancer, especially at that age. I was just scared - period."

That was in 2019. Today, Nelson isn't just a survivor - she's thriving. The cancer is behind her, and the future is wide open.

This month, she'll graduate from USF with a bachelor's degree in public health and will continue working with dementia patients at a Tampa Bay memory care facility where she is currently employed.

Her ultimate goal: To start one of her own.

"I share my story so people know miracles are real," Nelson said. "I stayed positive, and with the love and support of my family, I overcame it. If I can do that, you can too."

Nelson's career path is inspired by experiences with her paternal grandfather, who had Alzheimer's disease.

"I used to visit him at his medical facility," Nelson said. "I'd see some patients all alone, with no family, and I felt so bad for them. So, I always told myself that I would one day work as an advocate for people like that."

After high school, she enrolled in Hillsborough Community College with a plan to earn an associate degree and then transfer to USF to pursue public health.

That plan was suspended when Nelson turned 21. She had been experiencing extreme fatigue for months. No matter how much she slept, she still felt tired all day, every day. But she didn't think much of it.

Then, while out for a celebratory birthday dinner with friends and family, Nelson experienced shortness of breath and felt something growing on her chest.

"I was trying not to panic, but I knew something was wrong," she said. "I was wearing a halter-top type of dress. Once I was able to catch my breath, I asked everyone if there was anything on my chest."

During dinner, a knot the size of a golf ball had formed there.

A few days later, a CAT scan discovered a larger mass inside her chest. Once removed through surgery, doctors confirmed it was cancerous - stage 4.

"You start thinking, 'Why me?'" Nelson said. "But you can't focus on the negative. I had to put that behind me and focus on beating cancer."

She took a break from school for chemotherapy treatments.

"It was a tough time," Nelson said. "But I had my family praying for me the entire time. We all believed I could overcome it. We had great faith on our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. I wasn't going to let cancer define me. I stayed active through exercise. I continued to have a social life. I remained positive. I remained myself. And I know that all helped."

In March 2020, Nelson learned she was in remission. The following August, she returned to Hillsborough Community College, earned her associate degree, and then transferred to USF in 2023.

"I feel extremely blessed to have so many opportunities," Nelson said. "I just want to continue to give back by helping as many people as possible."