Many remember high school years filled with pep rallies, school concerts, or study sessions. Aly Arenholz, 17, of Olathe remembers them differently. She remembers slowly shutting down and “slipping away.”
It all began when the Olathe South junior was diagnosed with stage two thyroid cancer in December 2021. It’s one of the most treatable forms of cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic, and Aly had a full thyroidectomy that same month. But surgery wasn’t a final solution. For Aly, the battle was just beginning.
GETTING THROUGH
Following the removal of her thyroid, Aly spent 18 months fighting the ups of downs that come with cancer treatment. Fluctuating metabolism resulted in exhaustion and illness. The strain of uncertainty led to depression.
“I wasn’t healthy. I just felt like a disappointment. I was ready for it to all be over. I could do nothing. I was helpless,” she says.
Aly tried to put on a happy face. But signs of her suffering were apparent to her mom, Jessica Arenholz. The cycles of oversleeping followed by days of rarely sleeping, bouts of crying, and a general loss of interest in life.
“Aly was mentally fading away more and more every day. She was sleep deprived, having several panic attacks weekly. She was spiraling into a deep depression right before our eyes, and we felt absolutely helpless. It broke me into a million pieces,” she says.
Jessica’s assessment was right. Aly was ready to be done with life. Aly says she even had a plan to end her life by taking pills.
“I didn’t tell anybody because I didn’t want to be a burden or annoying to my friends. I also didn’t want people to think I was faking for actually asking for help and trying to seek attention,” Aly says.
A NEW WAY TO WALK THROUGH LIFE
Ultimately, Aly chose life and over time, with a strong support system and an “amazing therapist,” she started walking forward. Even with a fresh perspective, she still encountered more roadblocks. She found out her cancer returned and endured more rounds of radiation treatment. A few months later, Aly then received news that she was hoping for—to be cancer free.
“I would like to be an example of no matter what life throws at you, you can and will get through anything,” she says.
With that in mind, Aly started a charity, “Kick Cancer Like a Girlboss.” The charity, which Aly grew from a $450 monetary gift, aims to help children experiencing all kinds of medical trauma. The children get to create their own customized Converse shoes. To date, the charity has raised $50,000 and gifted 458 pairs of shoes with a new way to walk through life.
“I have always loved designing and wearing my Converse shoes whenever I could,” Aly says. “I look forward to all the new styles and designs. When designing and looking at shoes, for a few short minutes, I forget about all my problems around me, and I can be proud of the final product. So, I hope, with every pair donated, every kid and every family can have that experience.”
These days, Aly is proud to be a survivor. She is determined to pay it forward, and to share the strength she gained on her journey with others. She is living each day with a purpose-driven mission.
“The kids receiving shoes were so happy and so excited. Many parents said it was the first time they had seen their child smile in however long. They would also show off their new shoes any chance they got,” Aly says.
Click here for information about Aly’s charity.
