Nurse in the making: How Kelly Lizano’s battle with cancer inspired her calling.

Welcome to the first-ever article of “Their Strength. Our Words.” In this feature, we share the story of Kelly Lizano, a now 24 year old woman - who faced the fear of many, survived and still excelled in her studies to become a nurse.

At the start of every interview with the incredible women who share their journeys, we ask them to define a word that represents their essence. For Kelly, that word was resilience. But when asked to define it further, she chose another: adaptation. Kelly’s life has been an unstoppable cycle of change and setbacks, which she had to face with unwavering strength.

Kelly’s journey began when she was just 16. She grew up in Peru, where she graduated school and applied, by chance, to a university - convinced that she was not going to get chosen. When she was accepted, she felt both surprised and thrilled. At 16, Kelly decided to study communications and marketing, loving the idea of connecting with people and creating meaningful experiences—a passion that would eventually link her to medicine.

But as her third year of university approached, the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down. In 2020, Kelly found herself isolated at home, we were all inevitably trapped and bored. This is where she began to feel unwell and noticed a lump near her clavicle. When restrictions eased, she went to the hospital. Living in a small village in Peru with limited medical options, she was advised to go to Lima, the capital, for further tests.

This marked Kelly’s first major shift—adapting from the quiet of her village to the fast-paced world of Lima. The adjustment was overwhelming for her, and she recalls feeling like life in Lima “moved a lot quicker.” After several tests, Kelly and her family anxiously awaited the results. The diagnosis came: Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Despite the terrible news, Kelly was reassured that, due to her youth, as she was just 19, she could make a full recovery with treatment, she had “nothing to worry about”. But this was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey.

Kelly had to leave her studies midway through her third year of university and reorganize her life. She started a chemotherapy treatment that seemed to help with recovery at first, but as time passed, due to the trauma experienced, she became hyper-aware of her body and constantly checked for signs of healing. Eventually, another lump appeared on her neck, the cancer had spread.

Kelly in the hospital after chemotherapy

This setback required a much stronger treatment. Kelly described it as “horrible” and “the hardest she’d ever endured”. The treatment destroyed her body—she went days without eating, losing 18kg in the process. Despite the toll, Kelly remained hopeful, as the treatment seemed to be working.

However, the battle wasn’t over. Another lump appeared on her neck, confirming the cancer was still spreading. Kelly’s doctors in Lima told her she needed medication unavailable in Peru. One doctor told her bluntly that if she could leave the country, she might still have a chance, she could not waste this opportunity. With the help of her family in Spain, Kelly made the life-changing decision to leave for Madrid in the summer of 2021.

In just a week, Kelly packed up her life, stating “how does one pack their life into a single suitcase?”. Her mother, who had been her indescribable support, left her job for a year to accompany her. The hardest part was saying goodbye to her father, who would later be diagnosed with cancer himself. This was the last hug Kelly gave her father, she remembers a look of “pride” on his face as a moment she will never forget.

Upon arriving in Spain in September 2021, Kelly’s treatment began almost immediately. She met a doctor who she called “truly marvellous” and “just so incredible” and it was confirmed that the treatment she needed was available here. After a few rounds, Kelly began to feel stronger and healthier, and soon, she was ready for a transplant.

After the medical procedure, Kelly was placed in isolation. Despite being at her medical peak, she experienced a decline in her mental health, something she had neglected for a while. Feeling obviously isolated and vulnerable, Kelly had severe panic attacks and, at her lowest point, felt guilty for all the pain her family had endured on her behalf. She reached a point where she felt like she “could not do it anymore.”

Then, Kelly had what she calls her “ultimate miracle.” A nurse visited her room after one of her panic attacks. After talking with Kelly, they both noticed that they came from the same

village in Peru. The nurse had lived basically right next door to Kelly. This connection lifted Kelly’s spirits, and as more nurses from Peru visited her during isolation, her motivation grew. With their help, Kelly made it through the isolation period and not long after, defeated cancer.

This illness and suffering inevitably became the turning point in Kelly’s journey. Expressing gratitude for the nurses who had cared for her and all the love she had received, Kelly realized she wanted to become a nurse. During her time in Lima, she had always found ways to help others, even while being conscious of what she was fighting herself. She noticed patients in worse conditions than herself and helped them, bringing extra clothes and scarves to those waiting in long queues, and letting people in front of her for medical attention. This constant need to help shaped her now obvious desire to pursue nursing.

When we asked Kelly what advice she would give to her teenage self, she said, “I would tell my 15-year-old self to believe in herself. To believe that she can do anything she sets her

mind to.” Kelly understands the challenges young girls face today, having struggled with an eating disorder at 15 and a toxic relationship at 18. She credits her classmates for helping her get through those difficult times, and now she recognises how support is vital and how strength is not easy to achieve.

Kelly graduates from her nursing assistant course

Kelly’s story is not just about resilience. It’s about love, support, and adaptation—the things that were most noticeable to her during her toughest times. At 24, she is proof that no matter how many times life sets you back, with resilience and the love of those around you, you can always rise again.

Written by: Daniela Caro Interviewed by: Daniela Caro

– Thank you Kelly for sharing your amazing story ♥️