Chloe Potes, a first-year justice studies major at James Madison University, faced an unexpected challenge when she learned of her father Ryan's stage 2 multiple myeloma diagnosis just a month after starting college. This heart-wrenching news changed her family's life and led her to take remarkable actions.

Surprising Her Father During Treatment

In September, Potes surprised her father by traveling home after his first of three treatments. A TikTok video she shared on Nov. 15 documented this special moment. It was a huge win for Ryan to walk by himself after the first procedure. Since then, he has completed all three procedures, and the family is taking each day as it comes while he continues to improve.Potes describes her father as "full of life," always putting others before himself and filled with joy and positive energy.

Discovering the Diagnosis

Ryan had gone to the emergency room thinking it was diverticulitis. However, one doctor noticed his back was "completely shattered." Multiple myeloma had deteriorated his back, causing 12 vertebrae bones to fracture. This discovery was a shock to the family.Potes, being four hours away at college, faced challenges in visiting her family. Without a car on campus, she had limited options. But she didn't give up. She spent her free time researching her father's cancer and advocating on campus through various means. She even wrote a story for the campus newspaper.

Creating Awareness and Support

A GoFundMe was set up by a family friend to cover hospital bills and buy an adjustable bed for home. During treatment, Ryan couldn't sleep in his own bed, so he slept in a recliner chair downstairs for a month. Potes's mother slept on a twin-size mattress on the living room floor beside him, never leaving his side.Potes used her TikTok platform to share her father's story. With about 10,000 followers from a previous viral video, she shared her dad's story on Oct. 1. That video has been viewed over 250,000 times. On Oct. 26, she shared another video of her closest friend and schoolmate, Hunter, shaving his head in solidarity with her father. This video has been viewed over 17 million times.Potes is amazed by the response she has received. People from all over have come together to help and support each other. She is proud of her father for his fight.