Danielle Cantwell: Hearts of Hope

Inside USD -- In 2009, Danielle Cantwell’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment over a period of two years. Though it was a harrowing experience, Cantwell vividly remembers seeing how touched her mother was one day after receiving a ceramic heart from a young boy.

“For my mom, receiving something as something as simple yet touching as this ceramic heart, gave her a sense of hope and made her feel as though she was not alone in her fight,” Cantwell says.

That moment prompted her to join Hearts of Hope, a nationwide volunteer organization that assists people transitioning through difficult circumstances. (Full Article) 

Cantwell is majoring in behavioral neuroscience and minoring in Spanish at the University of San Diego.

This article is part of a series dedicated to highlighting Changemakers at the University of San Diego. more information about USD's designation as a Changemaker campus.