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After Battle With Leukemia, Student Graduates High School

KINGSTON — A young woman who is recovering from a battle with cancer graduated from high school Thursday night in Kingston, something she once thought she...

KINGSTON -- A young woman who is recovering from a battle with cancer graduated from high school Thursday night in Kingston, something she once thought she might not be able to do.

Taylor Thoryk of Swoyersville graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School before her family and friends.

In October of 2013, Thoryk, an active high school soccer player at Wyoming Valley West, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.

"I have my days where my body hurts, but it's just, you're gonna have bad days," said Thoryk.

Taylor Thoryk was in the hospital from October 2013 to March 2014.

Her father, William Thoryk, was by her side almost constantly.

"It was rough. She had reactions to the chemo. It was, it was tough. Her first treatment, we didn't know then. It was hard, just watching her go through the process, her fighting, watching her tears. I'm just glad it's over," he said.

During her treatment and then her recovery, Thoryk said the Wyoming Valley West community rallied with cards, fundraisers, and more.

After working on school work in the hospital and at home, and hitting the books hard her senior year, came the moment they were all waiting for: graduation.

Taylor Thoryk said cancer changed her for the better.

She and her mom decorated the back of her graduation cap with a message that read: "She turned her can'ts into cans and her dreams into plans."

Taylor Thoryk will attend Luzerne County Community College. She plans to study for a degree in early childhood education.

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