She takes a deep breath and slowly walks on the stage. The music starts, and her body goes through the motions as if programmed to do so. She cycles through thoughts of grace for the opportunity to dance, as 11 years prior, she spent her time in a hospital, wondering if she’d survive.
On her first day of kindergarten, at the age of five, junior Karsyn Eubank was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Immediately following her diagnosis, she spent the next 84 days in the Cook Children’s Hospital, growing much too familiar with the feeling of needles in her body.
“When I first found out I had cancer, I was so young and didn’t know exactly how to process it or what it meant, but I knew it wasn’t anything good,” Eubank said. “I think the lack of knowledge and uncertainty was the scariest part.”
Eubank endured chemotherapy, medication, puncture treatment and routine checkups every day for three years. The harsh medication and procedures weakened her body and immune system, forcing her to remain homeschooled and excluded from extracurricular activities before returning to school in second grade.
“The most challenging part of treatment was having to miss out on so many vital parts of my childhood,” Eubank said. “I couldn’t go to birthday parties, playdates or school like other kids. I had to find my own ways to learn, have fun and make friends, which is very challenging when you’re stuck in the same room for months.”
During the time of her treatment, Eubank’s family focused on maintaining a normal life as much as they could. Her mom, Wendy Eubank, balanced providing stability for Karsyn’s older brother while also supporting Karsyn.
“It was challenging trying to create a normal life for her brother,” Wendy said. “My husband and I would switch off going to the hospital. I could go on and on about the challenges. However, what is important is that we made it through the most challenging time of our lives as a family.”
Wendy serves as a Community Partner Fundraising Coordinator for Cook Children’s Health Foundation. She works to raise awareness for childhood cancer in hopes of finding a cure. Her optimism drives her in this line of work, despite the fear that remains in the back of her mind.
“We have to advocate for these children,” Wendy said. “I will not stop fighting for these kids until there is a cure. I try to live every day to the fullest and love big.”
Karsyn started dancing at the age of nine. She currently dances with Momentum Dance Company, where she participates in both local and national competitions. Dance remains an important part of her life as she spends over 15 hours a week in the studio.
“I’m not a very emotional person, so dance allows me to express my emotions and touch people through my movement,” Karsyn said. “Something I want to take away from dance is to not take anything for granted because you never know when your last day can be and to give 110% because there are people dying to be in your spot.”
From driving her to almost daily practices to traveling across the state with her to competitions, Wendy supports Karsyn in finding her passion to dance. She believes it highlights her growth and resilience from her childhood.
“Every time Karsyn performs, it reminds me how lucky we are to have her here on this earth,” Wendy said. “So many kids do not make it to this point. We are the lucky ones. 1 in 5 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. will not survive, and for the ones who do, the battle is never over.”
On Feb. 27-28, Karsyn and her mother attended the Alliance for Childhood Cancer Action Days in Washington D.C. They served among a group of advocates from Texas who spoke to congressional staff regarding two bills that did not pass. These bills, called the “Childhood Cancer Package” include pediatric drug development, clinical trials and access to care.
“During this time, I went with my group and told my story and expressed why the bills we wanted passed were so important,” Karsyn said. “I gained a lot of knowledge from this whole experience not only about myself and speaking in front of others, but also information about cancer that I had never known.”
Almost 10 years after she defeated cancer, Karsyn prioritizes making a difference in the world. She serves as a member of Science National Honor Society, National Charity League and Fabulous Faith’s Foundation, which allow her to help her community in many ways. She feels proud of her experiences and how far she’s come and focuses on living with a positive mindset.
“My experience has made me realize that you should never take anything for granted because you never know what life will throw at you next,” Karsyn said. “Every day is special and not promised, so you have to live like it.”
This story was originally published on The Rider Online on August 27, 2025.
