JENNIFER BLAIRE

College is a time to gain knowledge, have fun, and learn about life, but for Jennifer Blaire, it became a time to wonder if she would even live.

Jennifer was in her last months of nursing school when she had abdominal cramps, rectal bleeding, and bloating. During a physical for her job as a student nurse, she mentioned her symptoms to her doctor who immediately referred her to a gastroenterologist. After months of problems with her insurance, Jennifer finally had a colonoscopy, then surgery. She was diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer and began chemotherapy one day after the 2006 Colondar photo shoot.

After completing treatment, Jennifer returned to school, and has recently graduated.