CLEVELAND — A 23-year-old with cancer is not letting her treatment get in the way of her passion for singing.
Erin McElhenny is a Junior at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, but is undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the Cleveland Clinic.
McElhenny was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in March of 2018 and underwent six months of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, McElhenny’s post-treatment scans revealed that she still had active cancer cells and had to continue treatment at Cleveland Clinic.
During her first inpatient chemo treatment, McElhenny visited the main lobby of Cleveland Clinic where they have live artists perform every weekday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
McElhenny was getting Starbucks and listening to Kent Collier, the cellist who was performing, when she was invited to accompany him.
Watch their performance below:
McElhenny is majoring in vocal performance with a concentration in opera.
Patients that saw her performance said she moved them and calmed them before their own treatments, according to her mother Lisa McElhenny.
Erin McElhenny is back in Pennsylvania but will return to Cleveland in February for another short treatment and again in April for a stronger treatment and stem cell transplant.
The family has received support from opera houses in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Cleveland Opera sent Erin McElhenny tickets to a show, which she said she hopes to attend soon.
Lisa McElhenny said they have also been receiving cards with warm wishes, which have been keeping Erin McElhenny’s spirits high through her treatment.
Those who would like share their warm wishes with Erin McElhenny can send cards to Cleveland Clinic, Erin McElhenny Room G110-21, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland OH 44195.
