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Tess Wunderlich provides patients with the same excellent care she received while combating cancer at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, even if she never meets them in person.

As a medical laboratory technologist, she said she works “behind the scenes” at the medical center, testing blood and other samples to help physicians diagnose patients. She learned how important a diagnosis can be four years ago. 

While a student in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s medical laboratory sciences program, she visited an urgent care center when she experienced severe neck pain. An MRI soon revealed a five-centimeter tumor at the base of her skull.

“I didn’t want my life to end yet,” she said. “I felt like I still had a lot of things I wanted to do before I left, so that was my main goal, trying to make it through.” 

Throughout her treatment, she tried to stay optimistic and said she lived “day by day,” celebrating each day she made it through. Medical laboratory sciences instructor Chere Clawson kept in close contact to let her know 91¶ÌÊÓƵ had not forgotten her.

“I really, really loved her for that,” Wunderlich said. “It’s really nice to know there’s still a place for you when it’s time to return.”

Now, after two intense surgeries and seven weeks of radiation treatment, Wunderlich’s cancer is gone. She goes to annual MRI screenings to make sure it stays that way.

Wunderlich earned her bachelor’s degree in April. She looks forward to her future in medical laboratory sciences and would eventually like to work in pathology, helping to diagnose other cancer patients so they can recover and pursue their dreams, too.

“My goal is to help people in the best way possible, so I want to put myself in the best position to do that,” she said.

While treatment, recovery and returning to school were difficult, she learned a lesson.

“You get one life. Whatever you end up doing, even if you change your mind a million times, make sure it’s something you love,” she said. “Make sure that’s a place you want to be."