Finding Peace Beyond Caregiving and Oncology

Kim Johnson was a caregiver for her sister while she battled stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma for nearly five years, from diagnosis through an autologous transplant. Catch up on all of Kim's blogs here!

There are specific roles in life that we come to assume that become a part of who we are. They are no longer something we do but a part of our identity. For me, that was no truer than for the role of caregiver. I became a caregiver for my sister when she was diagnosed at 27, and I was 23. It was a title bestowed upon me and often referred to as my identifier by many. In the nearly eleven years that have passed since her diagnosis, I have come to carry several other titles related to cancer beyond that of caregiver: writer, author, case manager, patient care coordinator, nursing student, and advocate, to name a few.

About six months into my sister's cancer journey, I realized that I was meant to be a nurse. I was late to that realization, as many on her care team had come to that conclusion before I did. Even though I felt a strong call to nursing, I chose to postpone beginning my studies until after my sister achieved remission. I did not know then how arduous a process it would be for her to gain remission, but I served as her caregiver, and doing so, along with school, was not possible. I continued to delay beginning school, and I began my collegiate studies roughly a year after her remission.

I transitioned from a caregiver to a student, seeking to become the nurse who would provide care to others as her phenomenal nurses had selflessly given her. I continued sharing my story with CURE, was heavily engaged with the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and advocated often. Although I had worked in oncology in several ways and earned certificates and degrees, in 2021, the day before my graduation, my sister was re-diagnosed with cancer. Coupled with another deeply personal loss, I elected to leave the field of nursing. While I had a tremendous personal battle with this decision, I pivoted full-time to advocacy work via a political career.

All the while, I retained numerous titles I had held throughout cancer. On May 16th, 2025, I am proud to share that I will be graduating with my bachelor’s in political science and dropping one of the continuous titles I have carried: student. It is difficult to fathom, as this day once felt unattainable. As happy as I am to be completing school, there have been many emotions surrounding it. Namely, I recently realized that I am not graduating with a degree in Nursing. While I do not have any regrets about pivoting my career path, it is bittersweet. Prior to my sister's diagnosis, I was not sure what career meant for me. Although I have dabbled in other passions, I have always continued to work and stay engaged within the field of oncology. Moreover, although I will continue to write and share my story, my career path will now officially be focused outside of the field of oncology.

Cancer has influenced, impacted, and shaped me into the woman I am today. I am a more empathetic, knowledgeable, kind, compassionate, and overall better person for the path that not only cancer forced me to walk but for the parts of this journey that I have elected to walk. Moreover, although I will not be a practicing nurse, the lessons I have learned have and will continue to serve me as an advocate in my new career. Just as cancer and its presence in our lives is unpredictable, so is life and leaning into that rather than fighting it has brought me to where I am today. As I prepare to graduate, I have found peace in knowing that it is okay that the roles that I thought I would assume and the titles I anticipated carrying were not ultimately meant for me, and that is okay.

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