Celeste | Juneau, AK
Celeste wants to be the first in her family to graduate from college and become a nurse. Because of her personal experiences with mental health in the family, she aspires to work in the medical field. However, her plans were disrupted at the age of 15. During an annual physical, a physician found a singular pea-sized lump in her neck, which was diagnosed as a benign tumors on her lymph node. For six months, Celeste attended weekly hospital visits before undergoing cancer surgery in Anchorage. Without medical coverage, Celeste’s family would have been in significant debt: her father’s work in construction did not provide health benefits, nor did he have enough savings to pay for her cancer screenings. However, Denali KidCare was there to provide financial security during a time of crisis.
After her cancer scare, Celeste graduated from Susitna Valley High School, won multiple scholarships, and currently attends the University of Alaska Southeast. Recently, she tore two ligaments in her leg, but today, Medicaid covers her unforeseen health problems. With her leg in a brace, she continues to study for her bachelor’s in nursing science, work on-call in the dorms, and volunteer on campus.
