When freshman Thanaydi Sandoval began taking Aspirin and Tylenol regularly in high school to relieve pain below her knee, she had no idea that a tumor was growing in the top of her shin. Now a patient at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Sandoval is taking a break from being an international business major to receive chemotherapy treatments and recovery therapy that will last most of the school year.

According to Sandoval, she is currently three weeks into a six week window therapy program, which is an experimental procedure usually utilized to help prevent or treat cancer relapse. She will most likely undergo surgery in early spring of 2015 and plans to return to Harding next fall.

“The people at St. Jude’s are amazing,” Sandoval said. “They worry about every little thing for me. They’ve really made me feel comfortable while I’m here.”

Mike Allen, assistant professor of business and Sandoval’s adviser, said Sandoval can be described as sweet-spirited, but would also include the words “driven” and “motivated.”

“Anytime there’s something new, she doesn’t shy away from it,” Allen said. “Rather, she goes after it and attacks it with vigor.”

Sandoval was part of Upward Bound, a grant program housed at Harding that works with area high school students who intend to receive a college education, according to Katrina Smeltzer, director of Upward Bound. Smeltzer said Sandoval has been preparing for college through Upward Bound since 9th grade.

“She is an outstanding young woman, both in mind and spirit,” Smeltzer said. “This unexpected illness was a shock but I know Thanaydi will hold to her strong spirit and get through this tough year. I, for one, am thankful she chose Harding. I look forward to seeing her on campus next fall with books in hand, ready for classes.”

Sandoval said she cannot wait to start her classes again and looks forward to being part of the Harding experience again.

“I think I’m going to try (being in a social club) next year,” Sandoval said. “I started playing on an intramural volleyball team on campus, and I only got to play a few games, but I’m really looking forward to doing more of that next year as well.”

Sandoval said she is glad she chose Harding.

“Everyone has kept in touch with me, and I really appreciate that,” Sandoval said. “I had just started, so I didn’t know many people at first. But even though I didn’t know them very well, they have still been there for me when I needed them.”

Allen said that Sandoval is most encouraged by knowing that people are praying for her and thinking about her.

“Coming to Harding allowed her to join the Harding family, which has allowed all of us to become her extended family,” Allen said.