From Cancer Survivor to Caregiver

Experience as a young patient inspired nursing vocation 

Alexandra “Ali” Markarian was just a high school freshman when she got the diagnosis of stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. The 14-year-old underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments that today, nearly 10 years later, are still fresh in her mind.  

She describes feeling too ill to go through with her final treatment at The Tomorrow Fund Clinic, but getting inspiration from a special nurse named Paula Kershaw that would ultimately impact her for years to come.

“She was like, ‘No, you can do it. We will be done after this,’” Markarian said. She said that Kershaw and other nurses at Hasbro Children's not only provided compassionate care, but made her laugh, boosted her confidence, and encouraged her to persevere. 

“It really inspired me to want to do that for someone,” said Markarian, now 24 and a nurse on 3B at The Miriam Hospital, where she treats chronic GI patients and on occasion, oncology patients. 

Markarian went into remission within eight months of her treatment and went on to graduate from the Quinnipiac University School of Nursing. Today she uses her life-changing experience to help others as both a volunteer at The Tomorrow Fund and a fun-loving, empathetic nurse. She hopes that her patients gain hope and inspiration by seeing a cancer survivor healthy, happy and working.

“A lot of patients say, ‘You’re so sweet, you’re so funny. Thank you so much for your care.’ That means the world to me.”

As for Markarian and her childhood nurse, who still cares for patients at Hasbro Children’s, they have remained the best of friends. 

“As I was taking care of Ali, she was always taking care of the patients and families around her,” said Kershaw. “When I found out that she decided to pursue a nursing degree, it all made perfect sense.  A natural caregiver, I just knew that Ali would be a wonderful nurse, and I couldn't be prouder to call her my friend.”