Commemorative Speech
Nicole Koehler
December 3, 2011
Rachel Steele Tall, luscious, long, brown hair, beautiful brown eyes, and has the maturity level of a five year old. Rachel Steele was a popular girl who loved volleyball as much as a fat kid loves chocolate cake. Kind, strong headed, sweet spirited, loving, strong in the gospel, and always wanting to make people laugh shaped Rachel into a true young woman. Never in a million years would you think a girl like this would have to deal with such a hard trial. Playing volleyball was the only thing Rachel loved to do. Two weeks before nationals headaches started to come that wouldn’t go away for days. Thinking it was mono Rachel went to the doctors to get the diagnoses. Doctors are always there to help inform you about your symptoms but at that moment Rachel Steele wished she could rewind and never hear those dreadful words that came out of the doctor’s mouth, you have cancer. “I wasn’t afraid to die at first. I was just thinking ‘what about volleyball?’ because volleyball was my life.” Throughout her treatments though, Rachel prayed for her life and became less focused on sports. All she wanted to do was get through this year alive. The only cure to her cancer was five rounds of chemo therapy, and staying in the hospital for a year. Many people would breakdown and cry, in fact that’s what I did when I found out the news. But not this girl. Rachel started a blog that she updated every couple days to keep her friends and family informed on how she was doing. Some days were better than others, but she always kept a good attitude. Worn down, exhausted, skin and bone, no hair, excruciating pain, and still a smile on her face. “Losing my hair was the worst. I would run my finger through my hair and big chunks would fall out, that’s when I decided to shave it off so I didn’t have to suffer anymore.”
Trials make us stronger if we use them to our advantage. That is what Rachel has taught me. With five rounds of Chemotherapy, and one bone
December 3, 2011
Rachel Steele Tall, luscious, long, brown hair, beautiful brown eyes, and has the maturity level of a five year old. Rachel Steele was a popular girl who loved volleyball as much as a fat kid loves chocolate cake. Kind, strong headed, sweet spirited, loving, strong in the gospel, and always wanting to make people laugh shaped Rachel into a true young woman. Never in a million years would you think a girl like this would have to deal with such a hard trial. Playing volleyball was the only thing Rachel loved to do. Two weeks before nationals headaches started to come that wouldn’t go away for days. Thinking it was mono Rachel went to the doctors to get the diagnoses. Doctors are always there to help inform you about your symptoms but at that moment Rachel Steele wished she could rewind and never hear those dreadful words that came out of the doctor’s mouth, you have cancer. “I wasn’t afraid to die at first. I was just thinking ‘what about volleyball?’ because volleyball was my life.” Throughout her treatments though, Rachel prayed for her life and became less focused on sports. All she wanted to do was get through this year alive. The only cure to her cancer was five rounds of chemo therapy, and staying in the hospital for a year. Many people would breakdown and cry, in fact that’s what I did when I found out the news. But not this girl. Rachel started a blog that she updated every couple days to keep her friends and family informed on how she was doing. Some days were better than others, but she always kept a good attitude. Worn down, exhausted, skin and bone, no hair, excruciating pain, and still a smile on her face. “Losing my hair was the worst. I would run my finger through my hair and big chunks would fall out, that’s when I decided to shave it off so I didn’t have to suffer anymore.”
Trials make us stronger if we use them to our advantage. That is what Rachel has taught me. With five rounds of Chemotherapy, and one bone