On June 12, 1992, at age 2, little Laura Fischer’s life changed forever. Laura was told she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

As defined by Mayo Clinic, acute lymphoblastic leukemia is cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is also referred to as acute lymphocytic leukemia. According to Mayo Clinic, it is the most commonly found cancer in children and treatment has a good chance of resulting in a cure.

It started a month earlier in May when Laura was complaining to her mother that her legs hurt. To find out what was causing this pain, she was taken to a pediatrician and had X-rays taken. However, the X-rays came back negative, and the doctor believed that it was something that would go away in a few days.

After developing petechiae, red dots on her ears due to broken blood vessels, Laura’s mom took her back to a doctor. Then, it was time to wait for the results of more tests. After waiting what seemed much longer than two days, Laura’s family was instructed to report to the oncology unit at the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee the following morning. This was the day Laura was diagnosed with cancer and the Fischer family’s life developed a new meaning.

“I had gone from their cheery 2-year-old daughter who was just sick with the flu to a cancer patient in a matter of one moment. Just one word made all the difference,” said Laura.

The Children’s Hospital became Laura’s second home as she went through treatment. She went through 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy. She said when her family would go to see a doctor, they would bring someone else along who wasn’t as close to the situation.

“You need people to actually hear what’s going on. Once you hear the word cancer, you stop listening,” Laura said.

She had experiences such as losing her hair on the Fourth of July and developing sores on the lining of her intestinal tract from the chemotherapy killing her cancer and healthy cells.

Laura said losing her hair was harder on her mom than herself because she said at least then everyone knew she had cancer.

“I was like a walking poster,” said Laura.

She was almost finished with chemotherapy when she came down with chicken pox. With most children the worry is keeping them from scratching, with Laura the worry was that her immune system was too weak to fight. She was put in isolation and after 11 days, her body had overcome the virus.

The battle with chicken pox was over and so was her battle with cancer.

Laura is now a freshman at Winona State University in Winona, going to school to become a pediatric and oncology nurse. She is a cancer survivor of 14 years but her experience with cancer is not over.

In January 2008, Laura had another run-in with cancer. This time it wasn’t her. Her boyfriend, Brent Lemke was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

“Initially it was thought to be really bad, but it turns out it was just rare and treatable,” said Laura.

At the time of his diagnoses Lemke and Laura were just friends but having gone through the experience herself she knew how important it was to visit him in the hospital as often as she could.

“When you’re initially diagnosed, everyone wants to stop by, but then it dies. It helps because you’re in a bubble of denial. It’s nice to have continued support,” Laura said.

When Lemke was diagnosed he didn’t know that Laura was a cancer survivor.

“It was at a point I didn’t want to tell anyone if they didn’t ask. It was the last thing I would ever bring up to a boy,” said Laura.

Once Lemke lost his hair, Laura decided it was time to share her experience with him.

“Seeing Brent go through it was more real and a lot more scary,” said Laura.

Lemke went through five surgeries within eight months. He had four rounds of chemotherapy.

“Having Laura with me through the chemo and surgery was very comforting. She just helped take my mind off of what was going on,” Lemke said.

Laura said watching Lemke go through what he did makes her want to do pediatrics and oncology.

“He just blows my mind. He was so positive and never complained,” said Laura.

“One thing I will not forget is when she took me to Relay for Life to the luminary ceremony to see so many people who had gone through what I did and those who have passed on,” Lemke said

Laura has participated in a handful of Relay for Life events either as an honorary chairperson, a spokesperson for the luminary ceremony, or as a team captain. This past April at WSU, she was captain of the team, Standing Up to Cancer. Laura alone raised $1,000, which was more than any other participant.

Her strategy to raising money was a personal letter she sent out to the people she knew. In the letter she explained why she is so passionate about this event and her personal connection.

“It’s important to keep doing research. It saves people’s lives,” said Laura.