Female, United States
Last seen 1 year ago

Meaghan Edelstein

Meaghan was a young, healthy vibrant 28 year old attending law school in the winter of 2006. During her second year of classes she began feeling ill. Meaghan went to numerous doctors looking for help. Each doctor suggested it was all in her head; maybe she was depressed, mentally ill or over-stressed. Because Meaghan was young and had always been healthy the doctors assumed nothing could be seriously wrong. Enduring extreme pain, bleeding and exhaustion she kept returning to her doctors looking for help. Still no one did anything to address any of her health issues. Meaghan’s symptoms became worse with each passing day. Because no one believed she was ill she continued to attend classes and tried to live a normal life. Eventually the pain became so unbearable Meaghan drove myself to the ER.

The doctors at the Emergency Room also suggested Meaghan’s pain was in my head. However, due to the symptoms she complained of they were required to give her a CT scan. The CT showed the pain was NOT in her head. Meaghan had a large tumor on her cervix. The tumor had grown so large it had crushed her ureters causing the kidneys to rip open. In February 2007 Meaghan was finally diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, stage 3b. The same doctors that had assured her she was fine were now telling Meaghan and her family that she would not survive.

Meaghan decided not to give up but rather to fight. After two weeks of hospitalization and blood transfusions she was flown to Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston Massachusetts. Upon arrival the doctors were both amazed and horrified. Amazed at this young woman’s spirit and horrified at the pain she was forced to endure. Teams of doctors attended to her in an effort to diminish the pain and save Meaghan’s life. She underwent chemo, internal and external radiation, placement of nephrostomy tubes as well as numerous surgeries. With only a 20% chance of surviving Meaghan and her doctors fought hard against cancer. In July 2007 Meaghan won my battle and was cancer free.

While she won her battle with cancer Meaghan continued to struggle against the secondary effects of her treatments. Every three months she was flown to Boston for PET scans and surgeries because of the damage to the kidney. Meaghan returned to law school and with the help of friends and family graduated in December 2008. She went on to take the Florida Bar exam and passed. Then in March 2009, during one of her surgeries, the doctors discovered Meaghan’s left kidney was failing and would have to be removed. Two weeks later doctors removed one rib and the failing kidney.


Looking for a way to reach out to others Meaghan started a blog called I Kicked Cancers Ass where she wrote openly and honestly about her experience. Many began to find her on her blog and were able to receive answers as well as comfort. Realizing she was helping others began a healing process of her own. Wanting to make more of a difference she thought hard about what else she could do. Finally the answer came. Remembering the cards and gifts she received during her battle and how they lifted her spirits during a desperate time, Meaghan decided to match those who wished to give with those who needed support. Thus began SPIRIT JUMP.