God Used My Story to Give Me a Voice

Amy Kindstedt never imagined that her journey with cancer would one day become the foundation for her voice in advocacy and leadership. But through the trials and triumphs of the last decade, God has used every moment to shape her into the young woman she is today.

“It’s been a long journey over the last ten years, and I’ve definitely wrestled with why this is God’s plan for my life and for my family, and everything we’ve had to go through. But it has shaped me into who I am today, and how I live my life.”

Amy’s story began unexpectedly in January of 2014. She came home from school looking pale, tired, and with a slight fever. Her mom knew instantly that something was wrong. Amy had experienced chest pain off and on for months, but she otherwise appeared healthy—until that day.

What started as a suspected case of pneumonia quickly escalated. Doctors at her pediatrician’s office were uncertain and sent her straight to Boston Children’s Hospital. There, Amy underwent a whirlwind of tests and procedures. Eventually, her parents received the devastating news: Amy had a grapefruit-sized tumor that had collapsed her left lung and was beginning to wrap around her heart.

She began intensive chemotherapy immediately. The next 16 months were marked by high-strength chemo, six weeks of daily radiation, multiple surgeries—including the complete removal of her left lung—and countless hospital stays. Despite the immense challenges, Amy remained resilient.

“I used to joke that I always came in first place—in the one-lung division,” she said, recalling her time running cross country and track through middle and high school.

Amid her treatment, Amy was diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation that made her more susceptible to cancer. At age 13, she developed a second pediatric cancer. Fortunately, it was caught early and treated with surgery. Though she continues to live with long-term health conditions, Amy is deeply grateful for where she is today.

“Some days I wish I could close that chapter of my life completely, but I’ve seen how God continues to use my story. I’m so thankful to be healthy now, and I’ll never take that for granted.”

During the pandemic, as a freshman in high school, Amy found herself with more free time. Her family had recently begun homeschooling, and she stumbled upon a video about Kids v Cancer—a nonprofit working to pass legislation for childhood cancer research. She reached out to learn more, and soon found herself immersed in youth advocacy.

Over the last few years, Amy has not only become a passionate advocate, she has done something few teenagers can say they’ve done: she has spoken directly with Congressional offices in Washington, D.C., and beyond, sharing her personal story to influence national policy. Her courage and clarity in those settings has helped shift perspectives and build bipartisan support for crucial legislation.

“Our main tool in advocating is our personal stories. When a kid looks a Congressional aide in the eye and says, ‘This is what I went through,’ it’s far more powerful than any statistic on paper.”

One of the most meaningful initiatives Amy Kindstedt has championed on Capitol Hill is the Give Kids a Chance Act—a bill that would allow the FDA to require combination drug trials for children, just as they do for adults. Amy has spent years building momentum for this legislation, and it nearly crossed the finish line last Congress. “It came super close,” she recalls, “but was cut from the final end-of-year bill that passed.” 

Undeterred, Amy and her team worked to reintroduce the bill in the new Congress and are now focused on regaining bipartisan support. Because the bill didn’t pass previously, the process had to start from scratch—including securing new co-sponsorships. Today, the bill has earned the support of about 132 co-sponsors in the House and 7 in the Senate—a testament to Amy’s persistence and deep belief in advocating for children who need better access to life-saving treatments.

Even more remarkably, Amy has stepped into a leadership role—mentoring other young advocates and helping them prepare to tell their own stories with confidence and purpose. She continues to invest in the next generation of voices, equipping them to speak boldly in the places that matter.

Her advocacy work eventually intersected with another key influence: TeenPact Leadership Schools. Amy’s family began homeschooling in the fall of 2020, during the pandemic. Before that, they had been in public school and weren’t familiar with the opportunities available through the homeschool world—including TeenPact.

In 2023, Amy attended her first TeenPact Four Day State Class. “I was excited for the week, as I’ve always been interested in the political process and civics, but I didn’t realize the impact it would have on my life,” Amy shared. “It was beyond what I could have imagined or expected. I learned so much, made some great new friendships, and the Lord really worked in my life during the week.”

What began as an interest quickly became a calling. Amy applied to staff later that spring and attended TeenPact Congress in Florida that August. Last year, she had the opportunity to staff the New England II State Class—an experience that left a deep mark on her.

“It was such an incredible blessing and I am so thankful for the opportunity the Lord provided to serve and lead that group of students. It was such an impactful week and experience, and also a complete joy. Truly some of the sweetest memories.”

Though her time with TeenPact was brief—just two years—Amy described it as incredibly sweet and meaningful. She wished she had known about the ministry sooner, but she remains deeply thankful for the impact it has had on her journey.

“When I first started advocating, I didn’t know about and hadn’t gotten involved with TeenPact yet, but after I did, it really encouraged me and helped me develop into a better public speaker, leader, and just boosted my understanding of the processes and everything that goes into our government. I think the biggest thing it sparked in me was an understanding of how to integrate my faith with my interest in politics and my advocacy work.”

TeenPact helped her see that young people can step into places of influence and leadership. It gave her the confidence to keep showing up—both in advocacy and in life.

Today, Amy continues to mentor new youth advocates and share her story in meetings that matter. The journey hasn’t been easy. But with courage, faith, and purpose, she presses on.

“For a long time, I wanted to erase everything I had been through. I didn’t like being different. I didn’t want to stand out or be defined by cancer. But after my second diagnosis, I realized I couldn’t just pretend it didn’t happen. Instead, I had to embrace it. God has allowed this for a reason. I still don’t fully understand why—but I’ve seen Him work before, and I trust that He still is.”

Amy graduated high school in 2024 and just finished her freshman year at the University of New Hampshire, where she’s studying Political Science.