LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Plenty of things can change for the better in a year-and-a-half.
In December 2024, Nevaeh Gilliam was laying in a hospital bed, undergoing chemotherapy treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. When speaking to her then, Gilliam knew there was a long road ahead of her, but she also had people on her side.
“I definitely feel alone sometimes, but I’m not, I know I’m not,” Gilliam said in December 2024. “I know there’s people supporting me and I know there’s people behind me that are pushing me to keep going.”
Today, she said she is grateful for her friends and her Monterey High School family for supporting her during a very difficult time in her life.
“It made me happy,” Gilliam said. “It made me feel like I wasn’t so alone and wasn’t so isolated.”
Things weren’t always smooth for Gilliam. She described the time as challenging. Not only did she experience some of the most important years of high school in a hospital, but she still had to push forward physically.
In July 2025, Gilliam was finally able to go home, a relief after months of treatment and recovery.
“I pushed a lot,” Gilliam said. “I got out of the hospital and I immediately started doing things.”
Those things included joining the band once again, something she described as her favorite activity at Monterey. Gilliam worked all year to finish strong, and on May 22, she’ll be able to walk the stage knowing she graduated from high school on time.
Gilliam said the next step in her journey will be at South Plains College, where she plans to start classes in the fall. Gilliam said she’s learned a lot about herself during her experience and is looking forward to whatever comes her way next.
“I definitely have learned how to be stronger,” Gilliam said, “and to advocate for myself and to be there for myself and to choose myself and know what’s right and wrong for myself.”
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