As a parent you just hope your baby will be born healthy… January 2026 (At age five years old) Abigail Desmond embarked a journey no one could have predicted… Abby is a happy social butterfly.

There is nothing in the world that can

prepare you for the moment you hear the doctor say “she has become blind in her right eye due to optic nerve damage…” Then a call from the oncologist “the results do show that she has a brain tumor & because of the placement we can’t remove it so she will get chemo to shrink it”. The uncontrollable tears start flooding…

Abby walks in to the room…

“Mama What’s wrong?! Here’s a card I made you to cheer you up!” (if you know Abby one of her favorite things is to make gifts for people.) Mom tries to put a smile on her face but she just keeps crying…

Abby has been diagnosed with an Optic glioma tumor. Three MRIs, Brain biopsy surgery, 22 chemo treatments a ton more to go, broviac medicine tube surgery, & weekly mini roadtrips to the children’s specialist hospital… All of a sudden this is our life we are living.

The community and people we don’t even know are making this tough time a little bit more manageable & we are beyond words so grateful. For a local photographer doing a surprise Santa photoshoot for Abby’s birthday wish! Meeting and becoming friends with the family of Scout the firefighters first responder therapy dog who truly heals our hearts every time we see them.

The family is juggling A LOT to say the least. Abby’s mom has been the stay at home care taker. Not to mention the family was already battling grandma “Amas” two different cancer surgery’s and chemo treatment for Ama too. (It’s been a blessing in a way for Abby to look up to her as a guidance to not feel totally alone in this insane process.) but wowza it’s insane that this is our reality under one roof. Abby throwing up downstairs & Misha then bringing water & meals upstairs to Ama. Immunity levels dropping to where Abbys homeschooling & can’t see friends… This all feels like a dream yet this is our reality. Until May/June of 2027 & then Abby wants to have an epic pool party where you are all invited!!! So she can celebrate being able to swim again and feel healthy. We are trying to save up for any and all water fun for next year.

If there’s one thing the family has learned in all of this, it’s that the simple moments of kindness, community support, generosity & love from one another, make the magic of the world go round.