There's nothing scarier than finding out you have cancer — and not fully being able to understand what's going on.
Anytime a child is diagnosed with cancer, it's heartbreaking because they can't fully comprehend what is happening, just that they're given medication that constantly makes them feel sick.
That's what happened to Montana Brown, then a toddler growing up in Atlanta. When she was just two years old, she was diagnosed with a type of connective tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma.
Montana went to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for chemotherapy. A year later she went into remission.
She kept living her normal life, but when she was 15, the cancer came back.
So she went back to the same hospital for more chemotherapy treatments. Once again, she survived the disease. Montana knew the hospital staff was instrumental in her care — so she decided to become a nurse.
[H/T: BuzzFeed]
The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Facebook page shared Montana's story, and it immediately got a lot of attention.
To date, the post has over 6,500 reactions and over 350 shares.
They wrote:
As a child, Montana beat cancer—twice. First at age 2 and then again at 15. Along the way, she dreamed of growing up to become a pediatric nurse.
This week, notably during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Montana fulfilled that dream by returning to Children's to join the nursing team in our Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center.
Montana's experience as a patient inspired her to become a nurse herself.
She wanted to help other kids who were going through the same thing she went through.
Now, 24-year-old Montana is a pediatric oncology nurse at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
As a kid, she promised she'd return to work at the hospital, and she followed through on her dream.
Montana told ABC World News that her plan all along was to become a pediatric oncology nurse — she wasn't even open to other options.
While her fellow nursing students may have jumped from specialty to specialty, Montana never wavered.
She loves that she can be a source of hope and inspiration for other kids battling cancer.
Everyone who has seen Montana's story is absolutely touched.
One person wrote:
Montana is such an inspiration!!! When Montana went through cancer the 2nd time, we met her because my 18 month old daughter was diagnosed as the same cancer as Montana and they underwent the same treatment, she is a strong and amazing young woman!!!
Another person wrote, "Montana is a very strong woman! Congratulations on your recovery and for the beautiful job you do with your patients!"
There's no doubt that Montana is not only strong, but talented and skilled at her job.
What do you think of Montana's incredible story?
At only 24 years old, Montana is already inspiring hundreds of others who have seen her story online, along with all the young patients she works with!
If you think Montana is incredible, please SHARE this article with your friends!
