Perspective allows us to take inventory of what matters most in our lives.  In both tragedy and remarkable success, this rings true for Megan Stuart. After winning the 2024 World Irish Dance Championships, the dancer and cancer survivor reflected on how she was able to achieve this goal. Through this reflection, one thing stood clear, the people. The people with whom Megan has been fortunate enough to have in her life made these unimaginable accomplishments possible. Because of the team at Children’s Minnesota, Megan survived pediatric cancer. And because of these same people, she was then able to thrive in life, discover her passion, become an elite athlete, and ultimately, achieve her dream of winning the World Championships.  

Megan and her family knew having Children’s Minnesota in their community was a gift. After all older sister Molly was treated at Children’s for RSV, and Megan and twin brother John, spent 40 days in neonatal care when they arrived 8 weeks prematurely. These experiences left the Stuart Family with enormous gratitude for Children’s Minnesota. 

But then came cancer. Megan was just shy of five months old when she was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer called Neuroblastoma. In the weeks following her diagnosis, there were countless hours at Children's where Megan underwent scans and tests to pinpoint the magnitude of the cancer. This was followed by biopsies, surgeries, additional tests and scans, and ultimately a course for treatment including chemotherapy. The plan included rounds of chemotherapy intended to kill the cancer cells and reduce the tumor. 

Chemotherapy was administered to Megan while she spent days inpatient at the hospital. It was tricky to give the doses to an infant and the hospital allowed for careful monitoring as each medication ran its course. Following each hospitalization, there were daily visits to the clinic for outpatient infusions aimed to offset the side effects caused by receiving chemotherapy. After the outpatient infusions, there were home therapy sessions to maintain mobility and days spent monitoring blood levels as counts waxed and waned in response to the chemotherapy. This would take weeks and then when all stabilized, the next round of chemotherapy would begin again.

This cycle went on for months, each time Megan would start a round of chemotherapy she would be a bit more fragile than the last. Chemotherapy is effective in treating fast-growing cancer cells but it also impacts the health of the patient when doing its work. Monitoring Megan’s nutrition and weight would become a new variable. Soon, supplemental feeding became part of Megan’s daily care plan. This precarious dance of chemotherapy to attack cancer, infusions to combat side effects, nutrition supplements to maintain strength, and surveying blood levels to stay ahead of infection, became all-encompassing. This pattern of treatment repeated for months and for Megan and family being 'on campus’ at Children’s became more familiar than being at home.  

Slowly time moved forward and when the rounds of chemotherapy were over scans showed positive results. The tumor shrank and surgery allowed what remained to be removed. Final pathology indicated almost no cancer survived. It was then that Megan and team would fully exhale. It was also then that an overwhelming gratitude began to seep in for the people and the mission of Children’s Minnesota. 

By the time Megan turned two, she was considered cancer-free and by the time she turned five, she was officially in full remission. At this point, Megan entered the Children’s Minnesota Pediatric Oncology Research Program which she continues to participate in today. This program studies the long-term outcomes for patients and the effects of pediatric chemotherapy treatment in children. 

With kindergarten on the horizon, there was a chance to gain perspective through an inventory of Megan’s journey. This look back provided the ability to see the incredible people and the organization who helped make Megan a cancer survivor. In the years since, Megan and the Stuart Family made it a goal to champion the mission of Children’s Minnesota. Since Megan's cancer diagnosis and treatment, there have been parties to collect toys for patients and families, Dodgeball tournaments to raise support for Cancer Kids Fund, and many volunteer roles at dozens of Children’s fundraising events. To this day, Megan and her family remain committed to advancing the mission of Children's Minnesota and the work of the Cancer Kids Fund. 

This humble beginning shaped how Megan approaches life. Megan is honored to be in the company of those who have shared in her success including family, friends, classmates, and the entire Irish dance community. For Megan, it has always been about the people. The people who helped her survive childhood cancer, the people who believed she would get on the bus and head off to school, the people who welcomed her to the first Irish dance class, the coaches who recognized her talent and encouraged her growth, the team that keeps her body and mind in elite athletic form, and it all started with Children’s Minnesota.  

Today, Megan invites you to share in the celebration of her Children’s Story. A story of hope, perseverance, and people. Please consider a donation to Children's Hospitals in support of their Cancer Kids Fund so others may benefit from the community that helped care for Megan. Cancer Survivor to World Champion; it is all about the people.  

Reach Megan - [email protected] 

Watch Her Journey in Irish Dance - Megan Stuart 

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