(Photos provided)

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — In 2012, at the age of 26, Wawasee graduate Adrian McDaniel found herself in the doctor’s office receiving a diagnosis that would change her life. McDaniel was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma — formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease.

The disease is a form of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system, which is part of the human immune system. For those suffering Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cells begin to grow abnormally and may spread passed the lymphatic system. As it progresses, the disease may affect the bodies ability to fight infection.

Over the course of the next months, her three children: Cameron, 10; Lauren, 8; and Everett, 6; as well as her husband, Cody, gave her the strength to start combating the cancer with a bone marrow biopsy and 11 chemo treatments.

She celebrated the last chemo treatment on May 9, 2013. However the victory was short for McDaniel. Just a few short months later in July, she received news the cancer had returned. McDaniel began stronger inpatient chemo in Indianapolis that spanned 4-5 days straight. She also began a stem cell replacement therapy program. On Feb. 2, 2014, the McDaniel family received news that her PET scan results were showing the cancer was inactive.

Over the course of the next months, McDaniel found the strength she needed to fight her battle with cancer in her family.

Though McDaniel had won her second battle with cancer, her war had sadly just begun.

On Dec. 1, family member Cristine Marsh updated an ongoing online Caring Bridge journal of Adrian’s most recent news:

Like an unwanted house guest, at 29 years old and as a devoted mother of 3 and wife, Adrian’s cancer is back.
She was admitted to a clinical study at IU Health in Indianapolis. She will receive chemo once a week for 21 weeks. She will be able to stay in the study as long as her cancer does not progress. If her cancer does progress the next step would be another round of stem cell replacement.

Please join us in praying for a cure for our sweet Adrian. 

As McDaniel begins to brave another fight against cancer, her family is asking the community for help. McDaniel and her family are seeking assistance in find potential drivers for her appointments in Indianapolis once a week. In addition, those helping to lend a helping hand may help supply the family with meals and/or gas cards for the family’s time on the road.

Cash donations to help alleviate growing medical costs are also being accepted through a GoFundMe page. These funds will help offset bills that the family’s insurance will not cover.