Karsyn Kelly: Backward leg allows young cancer survivor to dance

Cancer patient, 12 year old Delaney Unger, opted for an unusual cancer treatment so she could continue to dance. Delaney's mother, Melissa Unger received a call in December 2016 from their physician stating "You're daughter has a mass on her femur and you need to make an appointment that afternoon with a pediatric oncologist." Delaney has danced ever since she was three years old and she was beyond devastated together the news that she had a aggressive and rare bone cancer called osteosarcoma of the knee.  This cancer affects less than 1,000 people a year. More than 90% of patients get a massive knee replacement which restricts them from doing any sports including dance. This cancer would require chemotherapy and also amputation of her left knee. Since Delaney's cancer was only in the knee and no where below the knee, they could perform another procedure. They would cut below the knee instead of throwing out the good ankle, leg, foot, and some of the muscles in the bottom part of the calf. They would actually tale the ankle, calf, and foot, and use that to make a new knee. In other words, they turned the ankle 180 degrees, functions as the new knee. After the 13 hour operations, all of the doctors were shocked to see Delaney having a fast recovery and eying getting back into dancing!

This story was really special. This event really connected to me since I am also a dancer myself and you never know when something can easily cause you to not be able to dance ever again. This story inspired me to never take a dance class for granted, because you never know when it will be your last. Also to never give up. If Delaney would have given up, she would not have recovered like she did.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/10/health/cancer-survivor-backward-leg-dance/index.html