By Sarah Sell, University Communications and Marketing
Beginning her master’s degree in 2022, Kylie Culver could never have predicted just how challenging, frightening and ultimately rewarding the journey would become.
About a year into the program and shortly after a study abroad experience in Spain, she began experiencing unusual bruising all over her body and overwhelming fatigue. Medical tests soon confirmed a cancer diagnosis, forcing her to pause her academic pursuits.
Before her diagnosis, Culver had been excited about the year ahead.
“Kylie serves as an inspiration to everybody who faces serious health challenges.” Chris Meindl, director of Florida Studies program at USF St. Petersburg
With a bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish, Culver chose USF because of its Florida Studies program. The unique interdisciplinary curriculum explores the state’s rich history and culture and highlights Florida’s critical role in regional, national and global affairs.
Culver was specifically interested in the program’s paleography courses, studying older writing systems and texts. She had just taken her first trip to the Archive of the Indies in Seville, Spain, where she conducted research for her thesis.
“When I got back home, I started noticing all these bruises. I was constantly freezing, completely exhausted, could barely walk and was so out of breath,” Culver said. “I went to my doctor, and he wanted to rule out anything related to rheumatology. So, I had some blood work done and forgot about it for three weeks.”
Culver returned to USF in the fall of 2023, ready to continue her studies. But on the first day of classes, she received unsettling test results from her doctor. He was so concerned that he urged her to see a hematologist-oncologist immediately.
After consulting her sister, who is a nurse, Culver decided to go straight to an emergency room in St. Petersburg, where she was given a blood infusion. That same night, she was transferred to a hospital in Tampa and officially diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML), a rare form of blood cancer.
While her long-term prognosis was positive, the treatment required intensive chemotherapy that kept her either in the hospital or recovering at home.
During her study abroad trip to Spain, Kylie went sightseeing with friends in Portugal.
“I eventually tried going to school online for one week, but it wasn’t working. I couldn’t see or move without getting sick. I ended up withdrawing from my classes,” Culver said. “And I was just starting to prepare my thesis too. I had gone to Spain, done the research and was ready to write.”
Culver said her professors were amazing and supportive throughout this time. They checked on her regularly and made sure she knew she was still part of the USF community.
“Kylie is a special person: full of life, energy, curiosity, intelligence and drive,” Meindl said. “Being told at such a young age that she had this terrible disease would shake most people to their core. But not Kylie. I was in awe of her determination.”
In July of 2024, Culver was officially cured of APML.
After a year away from campus, she was ready to return to her schoolwork where she left off. Meindl said Kylie wanted no pity party; she simply developed a laser focus on her reading, thesis writing, remaining classwork and graduate assistantship.
The road wasn’t easy, but in the end, she completed her thesis and proudly earned her master’s degree.
“It worked out perfectly. With the time in between, there was new research material that I could use in my thesis, and everyone was so helpful in the Florida Studies program,” Culver said.
“It was a community achievement. It wasn’t just mine.”