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A Story Of Survival

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By Courtney Zieller
Published: October 14, 2009, 10:00 PM
Updated: October 14, 2009, 3:10 PM

We first introduced you to Sioux Falls native Annie Johnson last summer. At the time, Johnson had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and told she had just months to live. But today, Johnson is still here and is doing better than ever.

Annie Johnson remembers exactly how she felt when doctors gave her the news.

"At first I went completely numb and I was just like, I had no words," Johnson said.

Johnson's bad cough and chest pain were the result of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She underwent chemotherapy then radiation.

"It normally has a 95 percent cure rate but for my situation, it wasn't the case," Johnson said.

It turned out Johnson's fight was just beginning. The cancer came back.

"The tumors had spread everywhere there was like 10 tumors all over my chest and lungs," Johnson said.

So doctors tried a different avenue -- a stem cell transplant. The first one didn't work, so they tried again.

"This time I was going to get a transplant from my brother and see with his immune system if he could knock out the cancer cells," Johnson said.

But still, doctors had bad news.

"I pushed him for more information and asked, how much time do I have? And they said two or three months," Johnson said.

Two months went by and to her doctor's surprise -- Johnson says she felt better.

She quickly realized doctors aren't always right.

"They weren't correct about my terminal diagnosis, thank god for that," Johnson said.

During her cancer fight, Johnson found hope through the American Cancer Society and by sharing her story through the Web site, www.sharinghope.tv.

"People need to know that cancer, particularly with a terminal diagnosis, it is not the end, you can fight and still survive," Johnson said.

Because of her medical history, Johnson had to put school on hold. But today, at 27 years old, she's back in the classroom.

"One of my goals in life is to graduate. I want to graduate. I don't have a million dollars to travel the world but I just want to graduate college," Johnson said.

And she's on track to do just that.

"I graduate in May," Johnson said.

She also has taken a different outlook on life. She's more focused on her dreams and goals, because you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. And she now knows anything is possible.

"I hope anyone who has cancer knows they can beat this. This is not the end for them,' Johnson said.

Johnson is living proof.

"Jesus heals and that's why I believe I'm here right now. God is good. There's a reason why I'm here," Johnson said.

Just a few months ago Johnson had another scare. Doctors found what they thought were cancerous spots in her chest but after undergoing a body scan -- doctors found no signs of cancer.




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