Mary Haridin-Baylor Athletics

On September 23rd when UMHB Volleyball takes the court against Schreiner, the team will be playing to raise awareness for pediatric cancer. For Addison Lundquist and Ava Reed, that cause is personal. As siblings of pediatric cancer survivors, both Crusaders are studying to eventually work in the medical field and help families just like theirs. 

Cru Volleyball opens the 2026 season with home matches on 9/1, 9/3, 9 /4 and 9/5! Check out the full schedule here.

What is your career goal?
AL | My career goal is to become a CRNA and work with kids.

AR | My career goal is to help serve and treat people in the medical field. My profession of choice is still undecided, but with my life and going to different doctor appointments for both of my siblings, it has made me want to help people just like they have helped my brothers.
 
Why did you choose UMHB?
AL | I chose UMHB because it is close to home and has so many amazing people. And I have the opportunity to play volleyball!

AR | I chose UMHB for their amazing programs for the medical field and all the opportunities they have for that. Not only that but the Christ-centered community they teach us and have everywhere was another main reason for my choice as well as my commitment to play indoor and beach volleyball.
 
Tell us about your brother.
AL | My brother's name is Jackson, and he is 15 and a sophomore in high school. He loves golf, and it is so fun to play with him! We were both on the golf team in high school, and being on a team with your sibling is so fun. We have two other siblings as well, and I love being a big sister and taking them to do things! Our relationship has definitely changed as we got older, and I can't wait to see where he goes and what he does.

AR | My brother is 14 and just started his freshman year in high school! He loves playing and watching basketball, Legos, hanging out with his friends, obviously video games, and hanging out with the best sister ever! Henry is a super sarcastic and funny guy who has a huge heart, which shows when he helps our other brother with special needs and others around him. He and I are best friends, so having to leave him for college was super hard, but we FaceTime and text all of the time now!!
 
Tell us about your brother's diagnosis and what impact that had on you.
AL | Jackson was diagnosed with B-cell ALL leukemia when he was 11 and I was 14. It was a really scary time in my life. I was a month into high school and then my life changed so much. It was scary to be able to do nothing about it, and I could not stop thinking about him and how I wish I was in his place. It made it difficult to continue doing all the things I had to do like volleyball and school when his whole life stopped. He had a very hard two years, but I think it changed my whole family for the better. Seeing how strong and resilient he is makes me so proud. I think I have changed a lot. I think I grew up fast taking care of my other little brothers when my parents needed to be there for Jackson. I also realize that we take our health for granted every day and it makes me more grateful to go and do basic everyday things. It has impacted me so so much. I completely changed what I wanted to do with my life because I saw how being in nursing and having good people around you can help you so much when you are struggling. Jackson always talks about his nurses who where there with him every day. I try to give back and hope I continue to do so. I have raised 261,000 for research so nobody else has to go through this but also I want people who are going through it to have someone to talk to or someone that understands because not everybody does.

AR | My brother Henry was diagnosed when he was four years old. I was eight when we found this out and I was remember being extremely confused and angry as to why this would happen to him. As he started to go through chemo it made me want to stay by his side and be with him the most I could during this time while being young and not understanding what was happening. We would go to his clinic appointments together no matter how hard it was for me to watch. This built a lot of anxiety up in my life as well as continued frustration. As I got older, I have realized that because I have been through so much and I understand what it's like to be in a position to watch someone you love go through this which is why I want to pursue a career in the medical field and to help kids like other doctors have helped my family and brothers. This has changed me as a person now because of the perspective it has put in my life; to not take things for granted and be compassionate towards others because you truly never know what is going on in their life. I pray God helps put me in a position in my future to care for people and show them that they are not alone in any battle.
 
What's your message to other kids with cancer. What's your message to their siblings?
AL | To the kids currently fighting cancer, yall are the strongest people out there and there is life on the other side! You can recover! It will happen with time. To their siblings I say the same; it is hard but you will get through it. It's okay to be a kid! You also have needs and just because you are not the one in the hospital does not mean it does not affect you, so talk to somebody and take care of yourself!

AR | My message to kids with cancer would be to never give up and to accept the help, love and support around you. It can get really hard and you will feel down and not worthy, but to know there is a God that is out there to heal you and make you strong again is so refreshing. So when it gets hard, pray. And to my fellow sibling of siblings with cancer, you need to pray too. God cares not only about your sick sibling but also about your well-being. It was extremely hard for me to see that at first because of all the hurt and anger I felt. Not only praying about it, but also talking to someone about it helps. Know that you are also loved during this time when attention and focus is on your sibling is important. People still love and care for you just as much, no matter what. Also know that things get harder before they get easier, so be by your sibling's side through this time. No one wants to fight alone.