Receiving the call to inform her she'd been accepted into a drama school, Crystal Marshall felt like all her dreams were eventually fulfilled.

Four years ago, the ambitious actress developed a facial tumour; her confidence was destroyed and she feared she might never dare brave the stage again. However, despite going through dramatic facial reconstruction and seven rounds of chemotherapy, the determined 22-year-old never gave up and will now attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. And Crystal is now sharing her story on her blog to help others feel less lonely and even has her sights set on becoming a real-life superheroine.

"After I had operations for my cancer in 2017, I thought my acting career was over. When I went to the toilet, it was awful to see myself in a mirror. I couldn't even cry because my face was so swollen and my eyes were so closed. It made me feel really lonely. So it's amazing now that I've actually achieved my dream of getting a place at a drama school."

Crystal first realized that something was wrong on Mother's Day 2016. In April 2016, Crystal was diagnosed with osteosarcoma—a type of bone cancer—in her cheek and started chemotherapy straight away. After her chemo finished in January 2017, Crystal was then transferred to University College Hospital in London, where she had three operations. "And it has worked because now I'm cancer free and I'm so grateful for that."

In May 2017, Crystal set up a blog to help others in her position feel less lonely. Crystal has also been involved with the Teenage Cancer Trust. And a turning point came in 2018 when she got involved with their Find Your Sense Of Tumour residential weekend. "Each hospital had to do a show and the theme was 'circus'. I was chosen to be a ring master but I hadn't acted for two years. I had a new face and I was so ashamed of how I looked. So I had my hair covering my face to hide it. But I didn't want to let people down so I did it and even though my heart was dropped to the floor and I was sweating, I came off feeling so proud of myself. It's amazing to see that powerful picture of me in that costume."

So Aunt Edith wrote to him. She simply listed her reasons for wanting to live: her three children, who would be on their own in three or four years and among them a little girl who always dreamed of traveling and seeing the world. There wasn’t a word of self-pity -- only warmth and humor and the joy of living. She mailed the letter, not really expecting an answer.

A few days later, my doorbell rang. Aunt Edith didn’t wait to come in; she stood in the hall and read aloud:

Your beautiful letter moved me very deeply. If you can come to Houston, there will be no charge for either the hospital or the operation.

Signed: Michael Debakey

That was seven years ago. Since then, Aunt Edith has been around the world. Her three children are happily married. For her age, she is one of the youngest, most alive people I know.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita is an elite (精英) climber and has climbed Mount Qomolang-ma and Chogori (the second highest mount in the world). In 2016, she was chosen as Nation-al Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year. Since the birth of her son, her climbing has taken a back seat, but she would like to set out to inspire him.

Pasang is a skilled climber, having climbed Mount Qomolangma and Chogori. But to get there she had to overcome unbelievable adversity, as in Sherpa culture climbing is seen as a male activity. People would say she shouldn’t be with men and climb that rock.

Then when she had her first child, Eichan Nurbu, she faced fresh challenges because she was expected to stay at home and look after him as this was viewed as the mother’s responsibility. It’s difficult for her to balance (平衡) this with the climbing. But Pasang said that she wanted to inspire her son and show him that he should follow his dreams, so on his second birthday, November 14, 2019, she climbed Cholatse — a 6,440-meter-high mountain in the Qomolangma region.

Pasang said, “I learned so many things from my mother. She was single. She raised two kids by herself. She never went to school. From her, I saw how a woman can be strong. I have big respect for all the mothers, because the mothers are very strong. They’re always there for their children. They sacrifice (牺牲) their dreams for children. Everybody should have their dreams. Now, I’m a mother, but I’m still having my dreams. Everybody has a right to realize their dreams. Most importantly, I want to inspire my son to follow his dreams.”