Spring break is a time when people walk away from their intense schedules and heavy workloads to relax. This is exactly what Mariella Haubner intended to do when she hopped on a plane to Florida on March 8. 

Despite being sick with strep throat, she wanted to enjoy her time off in the warm weather with her friends. However, things took an unexpected turn when she got on another plane going home less than 24 hours later.

As the symptoms of strep throat worsened for Haubner, she searched for answers through doctor’s visits. It wasn’t until they took her blood that they finally discovered the problem. 

On March 11, Haubner received a call to meet in person at the North Shore Cancer Center. After a thorough explanation from the doctors, it was confirmed that Haubner had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 

“I think it’s really hard to hear at a young age that you have an illness that could’ve killed you, and it’s really hard to wrap your head around the fact that there aren’t answers as to why it happens to you,” Haubner said. 

This diagnosis came with absolute devastation and denial, but the overwhelming support from Haubner’s community has kept her at ease during this unimaginable journey. 

As a sophomore at The Ohio State University, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority member, and an LFHS Class of 2023 alumna, Haubner has created a network of love and care through every person she has encountered. 

“Mariella is, without a doubt, the most authentic person I know, which is a quite rare quality to find nowadays,” Haubner’s sorority sister Gabby Aquino said. “I have been trying my best to balance checking in on Mariella and her condition while treating her the same as I did before her diagnosis. Whether calling to gossip, sending funny social media posts, or just chatting throughout the day, I have been striving to show Mariella that she has not changed in my eyes.”

Haubner’s joyful spirit and authentic presence radiate far beyond the people closest to her. Through others bringing awareness to her diagnosis, a local restaurant in her college town displays its admiration and support for Haubner during this difficult time. 

Aside from her loving community, rather than being consumed by her illness, Haubner embraces something greater than her circumstances: hope. As she perseveres through adversity, Haubner guides herself in a positive light.

“Cancer’s really hard because they don’t know why it happens or what causes it, so if you sit here and keep asking yourself: ‘Why is this happening to me’ or ‘I don’t understand,’ it’s not going to help anything, it just makes you feel worse,” Haubner said.

An unclear cause or explanation of an illness may leave some in an exhausting cycle of confusion and frustration; however, Haubner sees it differently. She chooses to concentrate on the things she has power over: her mindset. 

“I can’t control the event that is happening to me. I can only control my reaction, and your reaction is what your outcomes are going to be,” Haubner said. “If you stay positive, then you are going to have a positive outcome, and I will just remind myself of that every day.” 

Haubner centers her life around the phrase “R+E=O” which stands for “Reaction + Event = Outcome.” She lives every day knowing that her outlook on the diagnosis plays the most significant role in how she will approach and overcome it.

Through her optimism, Haubner’s spirit shines bright in her hometown. During her time at LFHS, she was a heavily involved student. As a member of the Girls’ Volleyball team, her authenticity left a positive mark on her teammates and coaches. 

“Mariella was always a joy to be around. Her personality is big, warm, and filled with humor,” Varsity Volleyball coach Ray Werner said. “She has the ability to capture the attention of a room when she walks in. On the court, I loved her competitive spirit. Off the court, her kindness and warmth allowed her to be at the heart of all of her teams socially.”

From her Ohio community to the Lake Forest community, everyone who has been blessed to know Haubner recognizes how strong she is, in and out of the hospital. After finding out she had cancer on March 11, she was admitted to the hospital only a few days later to then find out she wouldn’t be able to leave for six weeks. Her entire life was turned upside down within the span of a couple of days, and the routines she once knew at her college campus were taken away in an instant.

Although Haubner is not currently able to stroll through the streets of her college town or go out with her friends, it is the people closest to her who are truly making a difference during this hardship.

Childhood friend and LFHS Class of 2022 alumna Emersen Waddle expresses her concerns, as well as her deep admiration for Haubner throughout this journey. 

“There aren’t enough good things to say about Mariella. We have been best friends since we were toddlers, and we grew up as neighbors,” Waddle said. “After hearing the news, I knew it was best to go home to see her and provide support in any way that she needed. I visited her in the hospital and we laughed, colored, and watched our favorite old Disney shows and movies.”

Though this altered lifestyle isn’t how Haubner imagined her second semester to be like, she fills it with simple activities such as collaging, watching Law and Order, laps around the hospital floor, and many visits from her loved ones. 

While Haubner faces this harsh reality, her struggle is unfolding in front of those who love her the most. Her family has stood by her through every step of this process, despite how powerless they feel about the situation. 

“No one ever thinks something like this will happen to their family, especially not to their younger sister. It took weeks to even begin processing, and to be honest, I’m still processing it,” Dom Haubner said. 

Not only has holding on to positivity benefited Haubner, but her brother Dom has been inspired to adopt the same optimistic outlook that Haubner has maintained.   

“Even though no one should ever have to go through something like this, she’s kept her spirits as high as possible—and that’s been a huge source of motivation for me,” Dom Haubner said.

Facing any type of cancer is difficult, no matter the circumstances; however, dealing with Leukemia at age 20 in one of its rarest forms is unimaginably difficult. Despite her form of cancer being incredibly unique, Haubner’s unlikely genetic mutation makes these procedures much more complex to navigate. 

Due to the lack of frequent cases of this illness, Haubner has decided to be apart of a clinical trial to target her genetic mutation. Her doctors and specialists are constantly working to ensure Haubner’s recovery is seamless and that she stays comfortable in the process. 

Since Haubner’s condition is extremely rare, her cousin has created a GoFundMe page in order to raise money for the cause. 

Cancer has disrupted many parts of the Haubner family, however, Mariella’s positivity through the diagnosis cannot be shaken. Through it all, Mariella has kept her head up high persevering through this battle. 

Her story reminds us all of the importance of a united community and support through difficult times. Although Haubner’s cancer journey is just beginning, her soul shines bright amid hardships.