My name is Audrey Genis, and I am a childhood cancer survivor.

When I was 8 years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I didn’t understand what the word “cancer” meant. What I did understand was the sadness sitting behind my mom’s eyes, a look that has stayed with me.

During treatment, I had a dream that brought me so much peace. I was surrounded by angels, everything around me was white and glowing, and the angels were playing double Dutch with me. I knew it was a dream because I didn’t know how to double Dutch at the time.

That dream felt like a message from God. Even if my story ended there, I knew I was going to be okay. Heaven was so beautiful. That dream gave me the courage and hope I needed to keep going.

I remember seeing other kids who were also sick, never realizing I was just as sick as they were. I felt so sad for them and wished there was something I could do to help. Then, from one day to the next, some of those kids were gone. I didn’t know where they had gone until I got older and finally understood.

Two months into treatment, I suffered a stroke that left the left side of my body paralyzed. Doctors told my mom they didn’t know if I would ever walk again. I tried with everything in me to move my left side. In my heart, I just knew they were wrong.

Cancer taught me positivity, resilience, and strength. Today, I am a mother to a beautiful son and a CPS social worker for Kings County. The support I received as a child inspired me to help children and families facing their own battles.

Childhood cancer awareness is about the children, the families, the survivors, and the children whose stories ended too soon.

Children should be living their lives, not fighting for them.

Thank you for supporting my story and this important cause. 🎗️💜