Jamie Brown is a current 12th grader at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey. Jamie has lived in Montvale her whole life. Her mother grew up in Monroe, New York, and her father in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Browns have established strong roots in Jersey.
In 2021, Jamie started her freshman year at Pascack Hills. Her brother, Ethan Brown, was a senior and provided a familiar face to the chaos of the two towns combining. Jamie states that the hardest part about freshman year was finding her place.
“I bounced between a lot of different people, just trying to find who I fit in with most- I was just trying to find who I was.” Jamie explains with nostalgia for the beginning of high school.
Luckily, by the end of her freshman year, Jamie was able to confidently say she had found her people.
Jamie Brown and friends on the first day of senior year (Stacey Brown)
Throughout her sophomore and beginning junior year Jamie Brown was a dedicated student and soccer player. An extremely social and energetic person who others loved to be around and who loved to be around others.
This was exactly how Jamie found herself on May 17th, 2024, when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Surrounded by her mother, father, and brother, the news was delivered at the emergency room at Hackensack Hospital. While her family cried, Jamie sat stunned.
Jamie had previously experienced shortness of breath, a rash, and a lump on her neck; but, never had she thought it could have been cancer. For the next five hours, Jamie and her family discussed how treatments would proceed. Chest scans and MRIs were taken to ensure the cancer was not spreading. Two days later, Jamie started chemo treatment.
“Once you see one face, they’re your comfort and you want them to be with you for the whole time” Jamie states, “I was never going to see [the ER doctors] again.”
Thankfully, Jamie and her family were soon transferred to the fifth floor for oncology and pediatric hematology where she met her official doctors who would be with her for all of treatment.
Jamie continued her classes and work from home. While it was upsetting to learn big events would come and go without her attendance, Jamie explains that what she missed most were the little things.
“You definitely feel like you’re missing out…like casual things that I took for granted. I missed just walking past people in the hallways and saying ‘hi.’”
In a way, Jamie sees her diagnosis as an eye opener. When everyone began to reach out to her, she knew some people may have been nervous or scared it would overwhelm her; but, on the contrary, it helped know she had a whole community looking out for her. Jamie summarizes her senior year with the Phillip Phillips song “Home,” fondly looking back on all the support she had been given.
“I saw [Dren Bauta, a sophomore who has recently been diagnosed as well] and he told me that he appreciates the exact same thing.” Jamie recounts, “It’s just nice knowing you have all these people supporting you.”
“Everyone that’s part of the community is such a blessing.” Sophomore Dren Bauta explains, “I’m so lucky to be supported by such a great community and they’ve helped me get through this so much.”
In her senior year, Jamie was invited to speak at the annual Relay for Life event provided by the Teens Against Cancer (TAC) club at Pascack Hills. Jamie was extremely honored to speak as she describes TAC as a “club that is fighting for all the right things will all the right people.”
Within her speech she discusses the struggle of knowing her body was being killed in order to be healed.
“When people know me, they know I’ve been through cancer. But on a deeper level, I sat and watched as poison entered my body, killing cancer cells but also killing all perfectly good cells in my body. I sat through radiation, not feeling anything but knowing it was knocking out everything inside of me. I couldn’t just decide that I didn’t want these chemicals killing my cells, because they were supposed to be healing the cancer. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
Jamie Brown is now proud to say that she is cancer-free and excited to start the next chapter of her life. She will be attending Indiana University in the fall, majoring in Biochemistry.
“I used to want to be an orthodontist, but, after everything, I want to become a Pediatric Oncologist and help kids the same way my doctors helped me,” Jamie states; but, more importantly, Jamie is looking forward to bringing in her own experiences to her practice.
“I want to bring more than just textbook knowledge to my patients.” Jamie
While Jamie can’t wait for her time at IU, she will miss the familiarity and close-knit community of Pascack Hills. It was because of the small-town feel that Jamie was able to overcome her diagnosis and remain just as strong.
Today, Jamie is still the same energetic and outgoing girl- even having to momentarily pause her interview to say hello to a friend. She would like to thank all of her teachers and the staff at Hills for constantly being there to support her; specifically Mr.Weiland and Mrs.Howard.
“My younger daughter, Caroline, has followed Jamie’s journey and considers Jamie one of her heroes.” Principal Weiland states, “As an educator, father and human being, Jamie’s journey is inspirational and I look forward to hearing about the next chapter as she heads off to Indiana.”
“Jamie Brown — it’s hard to put into words just how incredible she is as a student, athlete, friend, and person. Her courage and positivity truly light up every room she walks into. Over the past few years, I’ve been lucky to work with Jamie and always looked forward to our conversations. Her determination and strong work ethic were evident in everything she did. Even while undergoing cancer treatment, she faced each day with a radiant smile and unshakable strength. Her resilience has inspired me, her classmates, and her teachers — a true example of what bravery looks like. Through every challenge, Jamie never lost her spirit or her passion for learning. She is, without a doubt, a hero in and out of the classroom. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things the future holds for her!” – Jenna Howard, Pascack Hills Guidance Counselor
As Jamie’s senior year comes to a close, she looks forward to her senior prom where she will not be wearing a wig and proudly displaying her cancer journey. In the fall, she will move to Bloomington where her brother will be a senior and once again offer a familiar face while Jamie finds her people.
Jamie advises incoming and rising high schoolers to realize the world will not come crashing down if they do not find their friend group freshman year or have the perfect life. Things will get tough; but, they will always get better.
