2009 Voice of Vision
It is with the greatest honor and privilege that we at Vision Dance introduce this year's Voice of Vision. Alexa is from Raleigh, NC and dances at CC & Co. Dance Complex.
We are so blessed to have Alexa as a part of our family. Here is her touching story in her own words:
"I have always loved to dance and perform. One day when I was four years old, my mother took me to the doctor after dance class. My parents were worried about me because my abdomen was hard like a watermelon. I was walking sort of strange and I was having bad stomach pains at night when I would sleep. The doctor sent me for an ultrasound and that is when they found a mass.
The next day, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a Wilms Tumor on my kidney the size of a basketball. I was taken in an ambulance to Chapel Hill for surgery the next morning. The only thing I can remember about that ride was watching Elmo on the TV. I didn’t really like Elmo. The doctors tried to remove the tumor but it was too big.
After surgery, I was living on life support for 13 days. Once I was awake and could breathe on my own again, I began chemotherapy and radiation to try and shrink the tumor. After two months of treatments and living in the hospital at UNC, the doctors attempted surgery again-----and this time, they successfully removed it. I still needed chemotherapy for six months.
I was able to return to dance in February and I danced in my dance recital. I was so happy. I have had some problems since then as a result of the cancer and surgeries, but I am just thankful to be alive and still dancing. I attended the first Vision Dance Convention at the end of last summer (2008) and had a blast. Everyone there was just like me and loved to dance. What could be better than learning new dances from awesome teachers, making new friends with others who LOVE dance like I do, and supporting a great cause all at one time. Vision Dance is the best!"