Post by Stanford University

Studying the therapy that saved her life. Josie Fabian, ’27, came to Stanford interested in aerospace engineering, until a sudden health emergency in her sophomore year led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. What began as fatigue and bruising quickly escalated into an induced coma in intensive care at Stanford Medical Hospital. During her treatment, Josie underwent CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized immunotherapy that engineers a patient’s own immune cells to recognize and attack cancer. By spring 2025, she learned the treatment had been successful and she is now cancer free. “I truly believe I wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for the care I received at Stanford Hospital,” she said. “The way they cared for me meant everything during such a difficult time.” Now back on campus, Josie has returned to student life, including the Stanford Cheer team, while pursuing a new academic direction in bioengineering. She is also beginning to engage in research focused on CAR T-cell therapy, the very treatment that shaped her recovery. “This is my own path and I don’t need to be worried,” she said. “As long as you’re healthy, you can live a happy life.” Read more about her journey at the 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gm7sGyAE 📸: Andrew Brodhead / Stanford Cheer / Josie Fabian