Miami University Regionals Nursing alumna puts the power of determination to work through cancer struggle
Determination and support helped Holly Thornton graduate on time, inspire innovation in women’s health, and emerge cancer-free
Miami University Regionals Nursing alumna puts the power of determination to work through cancer struggle
By all accounts, Middletown native Holly Thornton had all the pieces of the college-to-career puzzle in place. The Franklin High School alumna has always known she wanted to be a nurse. Following in her sister’s (Jessica Thornton Eyink ’22) footprints, she was drawn to the affordability of Miami University Regionals, where she could also live at home.
It was all perfect … until it wasn’t.
An unexpected turn
In December 2023 – her junior year – Thornton was diagnosed with gynecologic cancer. While she had plenty to be worried about, one of her biggest concerns was how she could remain in school.
“I was faced with the reality that I may be forced to medically withdraw from school as I underwent treatment, something I wanted to avoid at all costs,” Thornton said. “Not only did I not want to give up on my dream of becoming a nurse, I didn’t want to lose my close-knit cohort of friends that had gotten me through all of the trials of school thus far. I also felt like I needed something besides cancer to focus on.”
This was unchartered territory for Stephanie Nicely, chair and associate professor of Miami University Regionals Department of Nursing, and her team, who were determined to figure out a way for Thornton to succeed.
“As nursing faculty, we are committed to modeling care and compassion to our students so they recognize how to translate this to the care of patients they encounter,” Nicely said. “Student success and support is foundational to our departmental beliefs, so our faculty and staff were committed to supporting Holly through this journey and identifying ways to ensure that she could successfully progress through the program.”
As Thornton went through chemotherapy and hormone therapy treatment, she attended as many lectures as she could and kept faculty updated on her progress. Faculty also checked in on her, allowing her to flex her exam schedule depending on her treatment schedule. Others volunteered to support her clinical supervision over the summer months to ensure she could stay on track with her cohort.
“I received emails from professors with kind words like ‘Thinking of you as you move into this next week!’ and ‘You are a warrior every day and your strength and determination inspire me.’ All of their support and faith in me meant more than I can put into words,” Thornton said.
Fighting together, Thornton was given the news in December 2024: She was cancer free and she would indeed graduate on time in May 2025.
Last piece of the puzzle
All nursing students at Miami must complete a capstone project their senior year in which they integrate and apply their knowledge and skills to address a real-world healthcare issue. Thornton and her peers — Whitney Kenline, Kimberly Ruiz, and Karli Theis — used her recent experiences for their inspiration: development of a screening tool for gynecological conditions.
“I had struggled with menstrual abnormalities for nearly a decade leading up to my diagnosis. I was determined to find a simpler, less invasive way to identify and treat conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and gynecological cancers,” Thornton said.
After going through multiple stages, which included brainstorming a solution, development and testing a prototype, and revising the prototype based on feedback, the students proposed a test strip with color changing sensors that could detect abnormal biomarkers within menstrual blood.
For her efforts, Thornton was asked to give a TED Talk-style speech about the project and its inspiration and was awarded the Emerging Innovator in Healthcare award at the Luminaries of Innovation in Healthcare event hosted by the Miami Nursing program in May. The project is still in the developmental stage, Thornton said, as she communicates with engineering and business professionals in hopes of bringing it to fruition.
“Holly has demonstrated extreme resilience. While undergoing treatment for cancer, she continued to show up for clinicals, engage in learning, and care for others with compassion and strength,” Nicely said.
“Despite the physical and emotional toll of her diagnosis, she persevered, graduated on time, and reminded us all what it means to lead with courage, purpose, and compassion. Her journey inspires us to meet challenges head on and never underestimate the power of determination.”
