By TJ BANES
IU Health Senior Journalist
tfender1@iuhealth.org

22-year-old college student was on her way to study pediatric oncology when she received her own diagnosis

Step inside Hannah Everson’s hospital room at IU Health Simon Cancer Center and there’s little doubt about the object of her girl-fanning. A disco ball hangs in the corner, a strand of sunflowers drapes an IV pole, and a candle with the phrase, “She’s a Swiftie” sits on a shelf. Pictures of the multi-talented singer-songwriter line the walls of Everson’s room.

“I love Taylor. She’s gotten me through a lot,” said Everson. And by “a lot” she means the diagnosis and treatment that landed her in the care of IU Health. Everson was a typical college student at IU Bloomington, a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, studying human biology on a premed track. She volunteered with a campus club called “Royal Encounters,” where she dressed as a Disney Princess to brighten up the day of children who are ill. She also volunteered at Camp Kesem for children whose parents were diagnosed with cancer, and was involved with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program.

Then on April 22, after experiencing bleeding of her gums, fatigue, fever, and sickness, she made a trip to the ER. The next day, she learned she has acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. She was immediately transferred to IU Health Simon Cancer Center where she began seven days of chemotherapy.

That morning, after arriving to the ER, the doctor on call was Dr. Larry Cripe, a leader in hematology and oncology in Indiana.

“He asked if Hannah had any questions and she said she wanted to know what her cancer looked like. He said he’d never been asked that question before,” said her mom, Kim Everson. “Dr. Cripe promptly took Hannah to his office and showed her the cancer under a microscope. He explained it as weeds in her garden and how they were going to work to get rid of the weeds.”

Hannah’s mother, who serves on the Elwood City Council, is married to Chuck, who works in maintenance at Riley Hospital for Children. Kim works in registration at IU Health Tipton; and Hannah works as a patient care tech at IU Health Bloomington. Hannah also has a younger brother.

“I always wanted to be a pediatric oncologist and now having my own cancer diagnosis gives me a different perspective,” said Hannah. “This has changed everything about my life. I know what my main priorities are and right now that’s my health.”

She recently received a stem cell transplant in the care of Dr. Jennifer Schwartz. Afterward, nurses surprised her with a special visitor, “Taylor Swift,” better known by her peers as nurse Payton Knapp. She was given a special shirt with the message, “I’m in my BMT Era.” The same message greets visitors who walk through the door to her room.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all how she is coping with this. She has always been very strong-willed, and very independent,” said her mom. “I thought the day we sent her off to college was the hardest day. of my life but I now know the day I got the phone call about her diagnosis was the hardest day.” Hannah and her family live in Elwood, where Hannah grew up playing high school sports, volleyball, basketball, tennis and cheerleading.

Kim said Elwood’s community has rallied around Hannah and their family, hosting fundraisers, sending food, and hosting a bone marrow donor drive.

“When they heard that Hannah wanted Ramen noodles and gold fish crackers, they sent so many I donated some to the local food pantry.”

In the past few months, Hannah said she has relied on her family, friends, and her emotional support dog, to keep her going. And, of course Taylor Swift music.

Right now she’s keeping her focus on recovery. She has big plans in November – she’ll be seeing the pop icon live in her Indianapolis concert.

“We’re just hoping to find a safe place where Hannah won’t be in the crowd because we don’t want her to get sick,” said her mom.