Grand Rapids, Mich. – When Brooke Hibbitts was 17, she faced a terrifying diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, a rare soft‑tissue cancer that struck her shoulder. After ten months of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, she emerged cancer‑free and, years later, has turned that painful experience into a calling.
From patient to caregiver
Hibbitts recalls the shock of learning she was “a perfectly healthy girl” only to be thrust into a grueling treatment regimen. “I did eight rounds of chemo,” she told WOOD‑TV, adding that the nurses and doctors who tended her became trusted friends. They would joke, “Are you going to become a nurse? You can come back,” a comment she initially dismissed.
Graduating from nursing school in December 2025, Hibbitts applied to the very hospital where she once fought for her life. In March 2026 she began work as a pediatric oncology nurse at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, reuniting with former caregivers now serving as colleagues, including Dr. Beth Kurt, who treated her during her own battle.
A unique perspective for young patients
Dr. Kurt says watching Hibbitts return “is so fun” and “really achieve her dreams.” Hibbitts says her own journey gives her insight that no textbook can provide. Each interaction with a child reminds her of the fear she felt at 17, when most teens are focused on school and friends.
“I feel like I’ve been able to provide a lot of hope for kids,” she says. She also strives to dispel the dread that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis. “When I heard the word cancer, I immediately thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this isn’t going to end well,’” she recalls. “That is so not true. We see so many patients make it through and thrive.”
Hope during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
The story arrives during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time when the nation highlights the challenges faced by young patients and the importance of research. For Hibbitts, the hospital that once symbolized months of uncertainty now stands as a place where she can offer the same comfort she once needed: hope.
Her journey underscores the power of personal experience in healthcare. By turning her own battle into a career, Hibbitts exemplifies how faith, perseverance, and community support can transform adversity into service to others.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
