GREENSBORO, NC – A North Carolina student is not letting a rare form of brain cancer get in the way of pursuing her dreams.
Molly Oldham loves to sing, she's loved it since she was five years old. The sophomore at UNCG has always been singing, whether it was at home or in her musical theater classes, but Oldham was faced with a major bump in the road. She found out she was diagnosed with stage 3 brain cancer back in 2019.
Oldham's tumor was removed followed by radiation and recovery. She then returned back to school in 2021, only to find out she had relapsed.
"It's definitely a challenge, but I'm so grateful for an amazing support system," Oldham says.
She had her second brain surgery on January 22, 2021, and is now being treated at Duke. However, while going through all of that, she never let go of her dreams of becoming a performer.
"When you have cancer, especially as an adolescent young adult, it is kind of hard not to be labeled with cancer, especially when you want to share your story, because not everyone goes through that," Oldham says.
Oldham wants her story to be more than cancer. That is why through all the hospital visits and treatments, she continues to sing and perform. On February 5, 2021, she participated in "Kids With Cancder Got Talent," a contest that benefits families fighting cancer.
"I've never actually been in a cancer talent show, which was very interesting because when you have cancer everyone kind of tip toes around you and feels super bad for you, so it was really nice to have everyone on an equal playing field," Oldham explained.
She was able to raise $3,000 through votes for the organization that put on the event called Hands for Holly. The organization provides financial assistance and education for families fighting cancer.
Oldam told us this is just the beginning for her, as she continues to pursue her dreams and write her own music. To learn more about her journey and listen to her music, click here.