Teen celebrates defeating cancer
A NORTH Queensland teen who beat cancer says the lifethreatening illness taught her a key life lesson: don’t sweat the small stuff.
Kahli Hildebrandt, 14, has only recently been able to signal the end of two years of cancer treatment, with a loud ring of the bell at Townsville Hospital oncology day unit.
“I gave that bell a thundering ring, and it was the best feeling to mark the end of an incredibly difficult period of my life,” the Bowen State High School student said. “But I learnt so much about myself during the past two years.
“No matter how hard it has been for me, and for my family, going through the cancer treatment has made me more aware of what is important in life.
“And what I do know is that I no longer worry about the small stuff. I try to live my life being grateful for what I have, and not worrying about all the small things that people, and I used to, worry about.”
Kahli said she was grateful to be back at high school fulltime.
“I missed so much school when I was sick,” she said. “I feel grateful being healthy enough to go to school and study and hang out with my family and friends.”
Kahli said she was planning a career in the medical field.
Her mother, Kris Burling, said when Kahli was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia two years ago, life as the family knew it changed “in an instant”.
“One moment we were all living our life, and the next we moved to Brisbane to be by Kahli’s side during treatment,” she said. “Most people acknowledge the emotional toll a cancer diagnosis has on a family but not many acknowledge the financial impact of a diagnosis.”
Ms Burling said the support of the Bowen community was “humbling”.
“The community held fun- draisers to help us financially,” she said. “It is the most humbling of experiences to see the community you live in rally around you and your family during such times. I will never forget how generous the community was when we needed them the most.”
Ms Burling also sang the praises of Ronald McDonald House, the Leukaemia Foundation and Red Kite.
“Those organisations provided my family with so much during Kahli’s treatment,” she said.
“When people donate to those organisations they can be assured their donations are being used to help families that are going through a childhood cancer diagnosis and families that are helped are so very grateful. My family is.”