Meet Anna Victoria Parker (AVIE)
- April 06, 2025
Our President, Ritchie Johnson, had the pleasure of interviewing Anna Victoria Parker (Avie), whom she met during the 12th Annual Keepin’ It Renal Run/Walk. Ritchie was immediately drawn to Avie’s radiant smile and was thrilled to learn about her recent acceptance to Brandeis University, where she will be studying Biochemistry as she prepares for medical school with the goal of becoming an Oncology Pathologist. Avie is the daughter of Reas Solomon and the stepdaughter of Elvoice “Scooter” McCain III, who was diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) in 2022.
1. Can you share a little about yourself and your journey to being accepted to Brandeis
University?
Hello, my name is Avie, and I’m a senior at Cypress Ridge High School. My journey to
Brandeis has been a long one because I have been thinking of my future since the 6th
grade, and started taking high school level classes in the 7th grade. By the time I
finished middle school, I had 5 high school credits that applied towards graduation. I am
now on track to graduate a year early with a 3.9 GPA, and three endorsements (STEM,
Multidisciplinary, and Public Health). I have been involved in eight or more clubs during
high school, some of which are: Women in STEM, as the Project Coordinator; Science
University Interscholastic League (UIL), as the President; Science Olympiad, as the Vice
President; and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), as a dedicated
member throughout all of my years of high school. I have been a very active member in
my community, both in and outside of school.
2. How has Elvoice’s diagnosis with renal medullary carcinoma influenced your decision
to enter the medical field?
I have wanted to enter the medical field since I was a very young child, like around 6 or 7
years old. However, Mr Scooter’s experiences fighting RMC over the last 2.5 years have
pushed me to want to do more cancer research, specifically in the field of pathology.
After his kidney and liver biopsies, I was able to read the pathology reports. I could
imagine myself making blood smears and looking at tissue samples under a microscope
to decipher characteristics that would identify a form of cancer or disease. The things the people in my household have seen him go through, while fighting this cancer, has made
me want to do as much as possible to help others battling rare and/or under-researched
cancers and diseases. Mr. Scooter is such a strong (mentally/physically/spiritually), chill
guy; despite the destructive and aggressive nature of his RMC. Seeing the kind of
strength and grace he’s shown during this battle has inspired me and reminded me that
regardless of what hardships you are going through, don’t give up.
3. Were there any specific experiences growing up that shaped your interest in science and
medicine?
In terms of science, my intrigue was almost innate. I loved and still love astronomy and
biology. Even when I was in elementary school, I loved reading books and learning about
how some of our body’s atoms and the matter in space are identical; like stardust we are
made of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. I would say the main experiences that
pushed me to be so interested in medicine are my mom exposing me to many different
things, as early as the age of 2. She would show me slides under her microscope;
explain the function of different muscles, bones, and organs; and let me read her
medical books out loud while she did my hair, which is actually how I learned to read.
Eventually, I started to piece together and comprehend what I was reading in those
chemistry, biology, and anatomy books. So, this sparked the interest in medicine and it
has been burning since.
4. How has your family supported you through your academic journey while navigating
Elvoice’s diagnosis?
One of the biggest forms of support they’ve given has been simply believing in me. They
knew what I wanted to do, and trusted I would and could do it. They never questioned
me or micromanaged me; they just gave me the tools and advice necessary, and
allowed me to pursue what I wanted to pursue. Some of the tools given to me were
information, lots of information, like the names of different genes that are silenced or lost
that can lead to cancers; and genomic modeling so that I could look at the 3-D
generated genes I was interested in. The advice given was the same advice given from
my family for my whole life, “There is a season for everything, and just because things
are hard right now… never give up. Stay focused and we are here for you regardless of
what else is going on.” During the first year and a half of Mr. Scooter’s diagnosis, almost
everyone in the house was exhausted from the ups and downs of his RMC fight, but we
were all able to still laugh. My family encouraged me to go out with friends, live, and just
be a teenager.
5. Have you been involved in any advocacy or awareness efforts for RMC or kidney
cancer?
Yes, I have been involved in advocacy for RMC since 2023 through the RMC & Me
organization. It was formed because Mr. Scooter wanted to help others going through what he is fighting. I am the Youth Community Outreach Coordinator and spread
awareness to my community of peers, friends, and friends of friends about the sickle-cell
trait, knowing your status, understanding hydration, and the changes in oxygen received
to muscles and cells at higher altitudes and during dehydration (if someone has the trait).
I also advocate about the importance, dangers, and benefits of making sure we,
especially athletes, are as healthy as possible and watching for anything that seems out
of the norm, especially if the person has blood issues (sickle-cell trait, anemia, etc).
6. What message would you give to other young people who are facing similar family
health challenges while pursuing their dreams?
Stay focused and don’t get discouraged. For me, I just kept going and tried to stay on the
path that I’d set forth for myself. With so much already going on in the family, it was
important to focus on my own goals because the last thing needed was more stress in
our personal lives because I dropped the ball or lacked focus. So, I just stayed focused
as best as I could to see things through. I’m only a quarter of the way through seeing my
dream through. I have undergrad and then medical school to get through, but I will
continue to pursue my dreams and I hope everyone else can find a way to pursue theirs,
too.
7. How do you hope to make a difference in the field of oncology pathology?
I hope to make advances in oncological research, but I cannot determine how much,
right now. Though my contribution may not be groundbreaking, I want to be part of the
group that is at least making efforts in doing what they can to try to end as many cancers
as possible. Cancer is devastating in many forms, and if I can contribute to helping
families, just as the doctors, researchers, nurses, and other people on the teams have
helped my family; I will be happy. I just want to help patients find answers and solutions
to whatever health problems they may have. Pathology tells a part of that story.
8. What advice would you give to students preparing for college who are dealing with
personal hardships?
The biggest thing that you have to understand is that things absolutely will get better,
even if “better” doesn’t look how you pictured it. It may seem impossible that things will
get better when you go through hardships, but I promise you it isn’t. In my opinion,
everything in life happens for a reason, good or bad; and it is important to keep going
even when things get hard because you never know what the future has in store for you.
If you give up because things get hard or seem uncertain, you are doing yourself a
disservice. Push through the hardship and whatever happens after you’ve pushed
through can be built on to get to a better outcome and place. As long as you have life in
your body, it is worth fighting through to live; you just have to push through and figure out
what it means to live. Whatever the answer is for you, do it and don’t feel bad about doing it.
Avie, we thank you for taking the time share your story and RMC advocacy efforts and we wish you much success as you open another chapter in your life.