That’s what Sara Nice said when she looked back on the hardest chapter of her life.

Five years ago, Sara started feeling tired all the time. The things she loved began to feel like a hassle. Then the bruises appeared. “My husband knew something had to be wrong,” Sara said.

“We went to the hospital for blood tests. Before we even got home to Nerepis, the phone rang.” It was the doctor. “By the tone in his voice, I knew it was serious.”

Cancer. Acute myeloid leukemia. Without treatment, most people don’t survive longer than a few months.

Sara was immediately admitted to the hospital, fought through months of chemo and got into remission. She was in her early thirties. Her daughter, Ariana, was only eight years old.

Then, just four months later, the cancer came back. Even more aggressive this time.

“I knew I had to fight. I didn’t want to miss seeing my daughter grow up. She gave me hope. And my husband – he was my rock.”

Sara’s only chance for survival was a donor stem cell transplant. Thankfully, her brother, Randy, was a perfect match.

The transplant worked, and after more months of difficult treatments, Sara was cancer-free.

Doctors used a process called apheresis to collect stem cells from Randy’s blood.

Through it all, Sara’s found purpose, using her strength to help others heal. And when she heard that the John T. McMillan Jr. Memorial Foundation was matching gifts during Radio-thon to fund new apheresis machines for the New Brunswick Stem Cell program, it felt personal. She’d grown up visiting Little John’s store and remembered John Jr. as the kind man her mom played ball with.

This personal connection encouraged Sara to share her story during Radio-thon, which raised over $329,000.

“Me seven years ago, would’ve been scared to even talk in front of my family and friends. Now if I get the opportunity, I don’t hold back.”

“I started doing fundraisers and donating wigs. Every time I went to the oncology unit, instead of turning it into a negative, I focused on a positive. That's what the McMillan family inspired me to do.”

Sara’s illness brought her closer to the people who matter most. It gave her the strength to stand tall and say, “I’m not the same person I used to be.” She’s always been a giver, but now, she’s stronger, more courageous, and more determined than ever to lift others up.

Her message to you: “Every act of generosity sparks hope and healing in ways you may never fully realize.”