Ryan Buehler
February 24, 2015
Bob Mayberry Foundation Essay
In 2013 my grandmother, Nancy Buehler, was diagnosed with lung cancer. This was very
devastating news because of the fact that she recently had battled breast cancer. My grandmother
was very generous, sweet, and understanding of those around her. Her battle with cancer really
gave me an insight and a better idea of what this disease can actually do. In March 2013, she
underwent a lobectomy and stayed in the hospital for a week, only to return again with a
complication. It affected me deeply seeing her being weakened by such a horrible disease, but it
also amazed me how she never flinched or complained about her situation. Her braveness
inspired me and her fight against the disease was valiant in my eyes. It made me realize how
important life itself is and how it can be taken away in such a brief amount of time. My
grandmother was finally able to leave the hospital but had to go to a rehabilitation facility
afterwards, then finally was able to return home. The next step was for her to have her first
chemotherapy treatment which made her very nervous and anxious overall. She did really well
the first few days but then started to not feel well and passed away unexpectedly in the wee hours
of the morning. Lung cancer not only affected my grandmother but the ones around her, myself
and my family were constricted by its effects. Losing her was especially difficult because my
grandfather had passed away three years prior and they were my only relatives in Texas.
Holidays and birthdays were always spent with them and it feels like a piece of us is missing
without them. Lung cancer highlighted my grandmothers beautiful spirit and how she was able to
make others laugh even though she didn’t have much to laugh about. I am reminded of her every
day because she left behind a cute little dog that she had adopted from a shelter and a very noisy
wild calico cat! I know she looks down from heaven and is happy to see us all doing well, trying
to live our lives with purpose. I feel I would be a gracious recipient of this award because the
profession I plan on entering promotes the well-being of people and can eliminate pain and
weakness. This scholarship will help me greatly, allowing me to achieve my goals and pay my
success forward as I help people. Using kinesiology to better people’s lives and help them get
away from their overbearing pain. If I receive this scholarship, the burden of the cost of school
will be greatly diminished and I will be able to focus on my studies and get amazing grades. My
grandmother would love the field I’m entering because she herself loved helping others as well.
She entered the Peace Corps out of college and travelled to Africa where she helped the people
there. Although her life was taken by lung cancer, it helped shaped me into the young man I’m
growing into and the future choices I make. I know my grandmother would be proud of where I
am today and I am thankful I had the time I did with her even though it was cut short.