“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

When Kassi Herdt bounds across the stage Friday evening at Fountain Park to receive her diploma, it will be cause for celebration.

Completing high school and “leaving the nest” is a rite of passage that millions of young adults have accomplished.

Friends and family will cheer as the affable and outgoing 18-year-old graduate prepares for the next chapter of her life.

But the real celebrating started several years ago – celebrating that pales in comparison to a high school graduation.

Kassi was 14 and living in Baton Rouge, La. at the time when she casually mentioned to her mom Dana one day that her neck appeared to be swollen.

It didn’t seem to be a simple case of swollen glands, yet initial tests and even the first biopsy came back negative.

Kassi’s condition wasn’t improving, however, and finally exploratory surgery was done to find what was going on. Lymph nodes swollen together the size of a softball were found in her chest cavity.

A quick test in the operating room confirmed what one oncologist suspected – Kassi was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (stage 4 because it was in her lungs).

Attitude

Naturally the Herdt family was devastated, which also includes dad Rick, younger sister Jada and older brother Trevor.

Most diagnosed with cancer battle depression and that attitude called “Why Me?”

“On the way home I was talking to Kassi and told her I was so sorry she had to deal with something like this,” mom recalls.

“Her response was, ‘Hey, better me than some other kid.’ She was so amazing then and still is.

“She was our strength through all this.”

Kassi simply responds, “I was fine.”

A still incredulous mother adds, “That was her attitude. She was truly amazing. I don’t know what else to say.”

Kassi concludes, “That was my mindset.”

So the next day she was flown to St. Jude Children’s Research Center in Memphis, Tenn. for further evaluation and treatment.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

Ranked one of the best pediatric cancer hospitals in the country, St. Jude is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children.

Between a St. Jude affiliate in Baton Rouge and time at St. Jude itself, Kassi underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy and nearly four weeks of radiation.

A follow-up PET scan revealed no activity, yet she is checked every four months. So as of April, Kassi has been officially “cancer free” for three years.

“Each year added on it’s more likely it won’t come back,” Kassi says matter-of-factly.

And so it’s been one big celebration ever since – celebrating life and happiness and the chance to pursue dreams and goals and just be a normal teenager.

It certainly hasn’t slowed Kassie down much despite some lingering back pain – she studies hard and works two part-time jobs.

Through all the ordeals, treatments and recovery time Kassi was able to keep up with her school work. The Herdt family has been living in Fountain Hills for nearly two years now and the crew looks forward to Friday’s commencement exercises.

Special trip

But the celebrating won’t end there, either.

During her time at St. Jude, a caseworker with the Make-A-Wish organization made initial contact, asking Kassi what her top three wishes would be.

The top wish has always been to scuba dive, and now that wish will come true this summer.

Her parents are certified scuba divers, and since being a young girl Kassi has always wanted to do the same.

Now after three years of being cancer free, her wish is finally being granted as the family will be whisked off to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Kassi was certified for scuba this past year at a Valley dive shop and completed her final testing at Lake Pleasant.

“This is the very first trip that Make-A-Wish is doing that involves diving,” mom Dana says.

“They are taking care of every detail. I want people to know what a great organization this is. They have been amazing.”

A surprise party was recently held by Make-A-Wish during which Kassi found out her family would be diving off the coast of Australia.

“I can’t wait to go diving!” she exclaims.

Another thing she can’t wait for is college. She plans to attend Northern Arizona University and study toward becoming a registered nurse.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the medical field, but after what I went through, I definitely wanted to go into that field,” she says.

Kassi says she may blend her love of traveling with being a nurse or perhaps specialize in becoming a pediatric oncology nurse.

She took a pertinent class at Fountain Hills High School and just this past week became a certified nursing assistant.

It’s easy to visualize Kassi as an oncologist nurse relating to young children and their families struggling with the “C” word.

The ebullient teen likely won’t hesitate to share her cancer tattoo, obtained for her 18th birthday on her left shoulder blade.

Naturally it features a “fleur de lis” (which also can be found on her car, in her room, “everywhere”) done as a green-colored ribbon (representing Hodgkin’s) along with her life quote: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Is that from the song made famous by Kelly Clarkson?

Don’t even go there…

“I liked it long before that song came along,” she says. “I don’t even like hearing that song.”

But her mom likes it: “It’s true for Kassi.”