Soon-To-Be High School Grad Counting Her Blessings After Battling Cancer

TUSTIN (CBSLA.com) — "A lot of times I look at problems I had before that were just monumental, and I can't imagine thinking that now," said Claire Nakaki.

And it's that kind of perspective you'd hope every high school graduate would take with them into the world.

But for Nakaki, it was a hard lesson and a lump on her left knee that changed everything.

"I had everything all mapped out for my senior year. Then, all of a sudden it's just taken all away," she said.

She remembered under the stress of filling out college applications she had once joked that she'd have to get cancer to have something to write about.

But last July, she suddenly had plenty to say about bone cancer.

Nakaki was forced to trade senior Varsity volleyball, AP classes and student life for nearly her entire senior year in the hospital, undergoing chemotherapy and surgery.

"I was very angry," she said.

The Foothill High senior lost some old friends and many new cancer patients who died at the hospital.

"They are some of the most inspiring people that I've ever had the honor of meeting," she said.

So touched by the bravery of her fellow cancer patients, Nakaki decided to think positively. She braved a wig and crutches as homecoming queen.

Then, she starting writing one college essay after another until she was accepted to nine universities.

"It's so important to remember just how lucky you are just to be alive and to be healthy," she said.

Released from the hospital just a week ago, Nakaki is counting her blessings and the hours to achieving the first goal she set almost one year ago.

"I wanna graduate with my class," she said. "I wanna walk with my class. And I'm doing it."

Nakaki will graduate Thursday. She plans to attend Loyola Marymount University in the fall.