During everything I went through, my faith helped me a lot.

Hanna Hughes and Kelly Melhorn have been best friends since fifth grade. “We’ve been inseparable,” says Hanna, who has made an impressive recovery after being treated for bone cancer this past year. The disease took her right leg and over a semester of her junior year, but it didn’t take her spirit. Currently in a wheelchair, her goal is to use a new prosthetic leg in time for prom. Kelly is proud of her resilient friend. “She’s the only one who could have handled it,” she claims, “prom is going to be a big step for her.”

 Lourdes played an important role in Hanna’s life this past year. Students raised funds for a new accessible home, teachers emailed homework assignments while she was in the hospital, and tutors helped her with math and Spanish. Even when she returned to classes, the school put the two friends on the same schedule in case Hanna needed any help during the day. “But I can do everything on my own now,” she says with an assuredness that anyone would envy.

“During everything I went through, my faith helped me a lot. Lourdes instilled that in me.” ~ Hanna Hughes

It should come as no surprise that, despite all the challenges, they haven’t neglected their academics or extracurricular involvement. Hanna is on the A Honor Roll and president of the junior class. She’ll run for president of the student body next year and figure out a way to stay involved with the soccer team. Kelly plays soccer each year and enjoys biology and math. Both girls are interested in veterinary school. Where will they study? According to Kelly, “We’re not exactly sure where we want to go.”