1. Emily Tan
My definition of bravery today is knowing I can take on any topics of conversation, embrace any emotions and address dark thoughts of my precarious life.
Emily is the ‘it girl’ that excels in every aspect of her active lifestyle. Having achieved certifications for MMA, boxing, pole dancing, parkour and personal training, she is a fitness coach, dancer, mover and aerialist who shows no signs of stopping.
But her world turned upside down in April 2018, when she was diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. For someone who lives to constantly challenge her physical strength and endurance, it was the biggest hurdle she's had to face. In December 2018, Emily underwent a bone marrow transplant that kept her in the hospital for 39 days.
“No business, fitness and nutrition training in my 15 professional years could have prepared me for five intensive rounds of chemotherapy in a span of 8 months.” says Emily. “What did prepare me were the experiences that challenged my emotional and psychological state—the type of experiences we choose to either define our limitations or cultivate resilience from.
After an intensive round of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, Emily is now in her first 100 days of post-transplant, and the road to full recovery will take 12 to 18 months. To find out more about Emily's journey and bone marrow donation, visit emilylolatan.
