Ami Kumordzie

Ami attended the Johns Hopkins University.  In the summer of 2012 she is riding with a group of college students on a 70 day, 4000+ mile bike ride from Baltimore to Portland.

What is your connection with the cancer community?

I knew that when I ventured to Thailand, I would experience things I had never seen before. However, the patients I saw at the Ramathibodi Hospital still left me speechless. At the weekly tumor conferences during my 6-week visit, I observed cancer patients whose disease had progressed so far that critical body structures were sacrificed to save their lives. I connected with one patient who had advanced cancer of the larynx. To save him, the doctors had no choice but to remove this structure. I became aware of this when the man spoke with a humanoid, robotic voice generated by the artificial voice box. Another memorable patient presented with tumors in both the pharynx and the liver, the latter of which metastasized to his colon. The doctors removed both of these structures, requiring the patient to ingest food through a tube, and excrete through a bag protruding from his stomach. Essentially, two of the patient’s most crucial functions, ingestion and digestion, were compromised. I often left these conferences with a knot in my own throat if not tears altogether. I was shocked to see how cancer could debilitate an individual and rob him of basic human functions. Even though I have not had family members directly affected by the disease, it was devastating to see its toll on a person's dignity and independence. However, despite their circumstances, I could feel their optimism. Every day, these people fought on in hopes of overcoming their disease. The memories of this experience lingered even after I left that room and Thailand altogether. Furthermore, it is still the main driving force behind my current goals. I hope to dedicate my life to discovering and overcoming common diseases by pursuing an MD/PhD degree and a career as a physician-scientist. I owe this mission to the brave people who shared their story with me in that room in Thailand. Because of their struggle and optimism, I now know my life's work. I want to ride in the 4k as a reminder to myself and others of the strength and resilience of the human condition and its ability to fight despite tough odds. Although riding cross-country on a bike is an impressive physical feat, I hope to remind others that it is only a shadow of the strength and courage cancer victims show every day of their lives.

Why are you riding with the 4k for Cancer?

As I considered how I would spend my last official summer vacation, several thoughts came to mind. Perhaps I would take that backpacking trip across Europe, or try scuba diving in Costa Rica or better yet, tour my native country, Ghana…all would be adventurous, all physically challenging and all memorable. Yet, when thinking of the experience that would be most satisfying, I found myself seeking an opportunity that would both invigorate me and benefit a community beyond. As I prepare to embark on a 7-8 year educational journey to becoming a physician-scientist, I hope to have a profound experience that will propel me through future obstacles. From this point on, my life will be dedicated to understanding and uncovering disease processes. However, this perspective can often lead to a detached view of disease as a set of mechanisms that is confined to research articles and classrooms. As a doctor and scientist, I seek to ground my understanding of disease back to my patients. I strive to empathize personally with what they are feeling, even if I have never directly felt their pain or experienced their challenges. As I delve further into my studies, I want to continually remember the reasons behind why I study and discover. Sure, part of my motivation is for intellectually stimulating topics. However, the more important reason behind anything I pursue will be because there is a person who is suffering or a family that has been devastated by a loss. By experiencing the 4K, I will be connected to a national network of individuals, including team members, who have been affected by cancer in some capacity. By experiencing stories of cancer victims and survivors, it would be a profound and indelible reminder to me to always consider the human aspect of disease. I would be honored to spend my last summer experiencing not only the most intense physical endeavor of my life but also one so emotionally gratifying that it will make a life-long impact.