Avery Krause’s life forever changed on May 1, 2025.
On that day, the Papillion-La Vista sophomore, a member of the basketball team, heard the words so many fear: “You have cancer.” Her diagnosis was osteosarcoma.
“I honestly just freaked out,” Krause told Hurrdat Sports. “I was like, ‘This can’t be real, this can’t be happening.’ I didn’t want to believe it, and didn’t for a while.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer starting in the cells that form bones, typically appearing in the long leg bones or arms. The disease can begin in any bone and is usually detected in teenagers or young adults but can also be found in young children and the elderly as well.
Krause said she was diagnosed with high grade 2 cancer, meaning that it would not spread. A few days after the diagnosis, Krause learned that she would need an amputation, losing the bottom half of her right leg. She said that she passed out after hearing the news.
“That was the worst time in my life, honestly,” Krause said. “Just knowing that I’ll forever be different than everyone else, and that I won’t be able to play, and never play the same, and just knowing that even the most simple things like going to get a drink of water, or going to get a snack I couldn’t do because I was on my crutches for so long.”
The 6-foot post played in two varsity games as a freshman before the cancer took her sophomore season from her. She has faced many challenges since the amputation.
“It’s just a lot of taking it slow and building my muscle back up, and learning how to use a prosthetic, and learning how to run,” Krause said. “I had to learn how to walk, and just basically starting over.”
While Krause was undergoing treatment in the hospital, her basketball team wore yellow bows for the first game of the season and honored her at the Monarchs’ annual Color of Hope Game, which raises cancer awareness.
“It’s meant everything, especially with basketball,” Krause said. “Knowing that I’m still a part of the team and can still go to everything, like I’m still on the roster. Just having them be behind me and even just a simple text, or ‘How are you doing?’ just gave me so much motivation and hope.”
Krause found out that she was cancer free on Dec. 9.
After her amputation, Krause received a $5,000 donation from a nonprofit organization called the Amputee Wellness Alliance. This organization aims to raise money for those with limb loss, hoping to help the beneficiary return to their activities.
Krause said she got connected with the organization through her prosthesis doctor who knows the founder, with the process taking off from there.
“It means so much,” Krause said of receiving the donation. “Basketball is one of the most important things to me; it always has been, it always will be. That was one of my biggest fears after I found out about my amputation was basketball. Just knowing that they care, and that they understand and just giving me part of my life back.”
Doctors have not yet given Krause a return date, but she’s hoping to get back next season, while learning a lot in the process.
“I’m stronger than I think, and I’m there for more people than I really think,” Krause said. “I was kind of the rock for my family in the beginning, because obviously it’s my parents, and that’s their kid, and just knowing that you can get through anything. I didn’t know if I was going to live or not, and just knowing that I can just trust God, and know that I have all this support, and just knowing that I can do it. You can’t take anything for granted, it doesn’t matter what it is.”
Although Krause’s journey hasn’t been easy, she wants others to understand the importance of staying strong.
“You can never lose faith, and never lose hope, because someone is always having a s—er day, and it will always get better.” Krause said.
As for others fighting a battle with cancer, Krause is proof that anything is possible.
“You can always get back, you can do more than you think, and you can never give up,” Krause said. “There’s always more out there for you, and there’s always something or someone that’s going to help you through it. If we stick together, then we can do it.”
