HOUSTON — When you scroll through photos on Breeze Hunter's Instagram page, you'll see what appears to be a magical, picture-perfect, easy-breezy life: Texas A&M student, sorority member, boyfriend, lots of fun friends and sorority sisters.
But take a tour of Breeze's TikTok page, and you will quickly discover that the former high school cheerleader is in the fight of her life at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Breeze's uplifting videos reveal an inspirational spirit and sense of humor while discussing the daily life of a cancer patient.
The 22-year-old's life was turned upside down in September. Her constant headaches were initially diagnosed as a sinus infection.
“My headaches never really went away. I started getting really tired and weak, like I’d walk to class and get really tired and have to sit down,” Breeze explained in a "story time" post. “I also got really skinny, I thought because I was eating healthy but obviously that’s not what it was.”
Then came another scary "red flag" when she went to a concert.
“Right before he started playing, I just passed out in mid-conversation, so I knew that was wrong.”
On the day she got her Aggie ring, Breeze noticed a strange rash all over her body. This time, the doctor did bloodwork which came back "jacked up."
They told her to go straight to the ER. They sent her to MD Anderson where she got the diagnosis: acute myeloid leukemia.
“The acute part means it’s very fast-growing and aggressive and my leukemia can spread off into branches," Breeze shared.
The treatment is three types of IV chemo and one pill chemo in 28-day cycles. MDA doctors kept her in the hospital because she was so sick and her vitals were "all over the place."
“Honestly, I’ve gotten like 15 blood transfusions.”
After six months of chemo, Breeze will need a stem cell transplant.
“Thank the Lord, my brother is a 100% match so he will be my stem cell donor.”
Despite being stuck in a hospital room for months in the middle of her senior year at A&M, this Aggie finds humor even in the mundane.
During a crib tour of her "200-square-foot mansion," Breeze shows off her "garage" with two vehicles, which are wheelchairs, and she laughingly takes one for a spin.
The tour moves to her "very chic" bed decorated with stuffed animals next to a chair with an Aggie throw. Then she introduces "Rolling Reba," the IV pole full of bags, machines and a shiny disco ball.
Next, is the "guest bedroom" where boyfriend Connor sleeps.
“I couldn’t be more happy to have him in my life," Breeze says.
The "walk-in closet" is next.
“I have all these cute pajamas that I can pick from every day.”
“I’ve got my array of slippers. I love slippers.”
“I’ve become quite the robe queen. I have three options that I get to choose from.”
An "office" where she does schoolwork, a window view of the downtown Houston skyline, photos of family and friends and a pink and black "Child of God" quilt full of inspirational messages complete the look.
Other videos include "pictures before I knew I had cancer," dancing through the hospital while lip-syncing an upbeat song and a fashion show of pajamas and her "everyday jewelry" of hospital bands, a dainty bracelet from Connor and her Aggie ring.
"Another day, another slay."
It's hardly the life this Aggie likely pictured when entering her senior year at A&M, but sharing her journey has led to millions of views, tens of thousands of new followers and best of all, encouraging messages from people all over the world she's never met.
