At 16, Kara is already a burgeoning advocate for cancer research. She has shared her story of survivorship with
magazines, given a speech before a room of 300 people and been featured in an interactive CD-ROM that includes
stories from teen and child cancer survivors.
explains. “But when a person has everybody else, and the truth is
really short hair or is bald, that’s that’s not so.”
just how you’re going to remember She is not one to worry too
her: ‘Oh, that’s the cancer girl.’ ” much, either. Her family still tells
Still it’s nice when she’s able to be the story of the time Kara and her
“just Kara,” she says. mother visited her neurosurgeon
Yet Kara is not one to grab the for a follow-up appointment to
spotlight. She raves, for instance, learn whether her cancer had
about her “great, great, great, returned. Gary Magram, now the
great” debate club teammates medical director of neurosurgery
and plays down her own role in at Children’s Hospital Central
their recent debate contest win. California, in Madera, projected MRI
And Kara is quick to mention images of Kara’s brain and spine
her collaborator on her public onto the wall and was about to
speaking projects: her mother, interpret the results.
“who is the greatest writer in the But suddenly the image of her
world.” But other people notice her own spine sparked Kara’s quirky
accomplishments. “Kara is one of curiosity, and she interrupted. “Dr.
those remarkable people who truly Magram, why don’t humans have
takes no credit herself,” Howard tails?” she asked. Soon Magram and
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says. “She always says it’s due to Kara were deep in a conversation
about embryonic biology.
Meanwhile her mother waited,
astonished at Kara’s question and
impatient for the results. Kara
noticed her anxiety. “Aw, don’t
worry, Mom. I don’t have any
symptoms,” she said. “I’m good. I’m
fine.” And she was.
CR | Page No. 23 | www.CRmagazine.org
PODCAST
Kara Amey and Her Mother
The entire Amey family
learned to cope with cancer
when Kara was diagnosed
at age 10.
