Author: A.J. Servillon
Diagnosis: Medulloblastoma (at age 15)

Every drawing or design I create begins the same way.

I draw lines that don’t seem to make much sense at first but eventually a picture starts to materialize.

Looking back, I realize that life after childhood cancer has felt very similar.

At 15, I was experiencing what felt like the worst headaches and dizziness known to humankind. I was diagnosed with medulloblastoma and went through chemo and radiation therapy. Treatment eventually came to an end, but I discovered that healing doesn’t stop when you leave the hospital.

This marked the beginning of a different journey. Like many  survivors, I found myself learning how to navigate a “new normal” while growing up, finishing my education and trying to figure out what came next. I am also still trying to deal with feeling behind in life, but my gratitude for many things always outshines it.

Drawing/art began as a passion that has grown into AJ Art & Design. I create custom pencil portraits and continue to develop my skills as both a visual artist and graphic designer.

Along the way, I’ve learned that moving forward doesn’t always mean following a known path. Sometimes, it means meandering until you reach your destination.

I still don’t know exactly where my career will take me, but I no longer measure my progress by whether my path looks like everyone else’s.

Every drawing reminds me that meaningful things are built one line at a time. And that’s enough to keep moving forward.

Link to my full portfolio, if you want to check it out!

This story was written by a childhood cancer survivor for the fall 2026 issue of empowerMEnt, the POGO School and Work Transitions Program newsletter.