One morning, Brian Clay woke up with a strange bump on his head. As a middle school wrestler, he didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just a minor injury from the mat. What seemed insignificant would soon change his life forever.
Over the next few weeks, the bump grew noticeably larger. As a concerned 8th grader, he told his mother and they decided it was time to see a doctor. An MRI revealed something more serious than originally expected. The scan showed a small hole in his skull caused by a tumor. Clay, from Stilwell, Okla., was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare disease affecting only one to two in every 100,000 people.
The diagnosis brought fear and uncertainty, but Clay wasn’t alone. Surrounded by a strong support system of family, friends and local church members, he found strength in their encouragement.
“My family and friends were my daily inspiration and motivation to keep fighting,” Clay said.
For a year, Clay underwent weekly chemotherapy treatments. It wasn’t the high school experience he imagined, but the challenge would shape his future in an unexpected way. Inspired by the care and compassion of the nurses at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tulsa, Okla., he discovered a new calling.
“I had amazing nurses during my time at St. Jude. The impact they had on me encouraged me to go into the nursing field,” Clay said.
Now as a sophomore at Northwestern, Clay is pursuing a degree in nursing and was recently accepted into the Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing Program at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Clay began his first nursing classes in June 2025 and is eagerly taking his first steps toward making a difference in others’ lives.
Balancing schoolwork and life challenges hasn’t always been easy, but he reminds himself of something his father used to tell him to help approach each day with focus and intention.
“He would say ‘how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,’” Clay shared. “This saying really stuck with me and is the reason I know that small steps can achieve amazing accomplishments. That helps me stay focused on the task at hand.” He’s especially excited to learn not just the technical side of nursing, but how to connect with patients from all walks of life.
“Being able to sympathize with patients is one of the best qualities I have, and I think it will help me in my future career,” Clay said.
As Northwestern’s nursing program, is ranked 18th among 754 schools in the central U.S. by NurseJournal.org, it was a natural fit for Clay. He has found encouragement from Drs. Jason Wickham, Venkata Moorthy, and Piper Robida, faculty members of Northwestern’s Department of Natural Science. He looks forward to continuing to build meaningful and impactful relationships with his instructors.
With small class sizes and one-on-one connections with professors, Clay has found an environment where he can thrive. As he embarks on this new chapter, he carries with him the strength and resilience shaped by his past along with a passion to serve others in their hardest moments.
“I’m excited for this journey.”