Shelby Rooks Cancer Warrior

Hi, my name is Kyle Rooks, and this is my 8 year old niece Shelby Synclair Rooks. She is kind hearted, charismatic, and full of life.

Shelby was recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. She has an eight inch tumor stretching from her knee to her ankle, that requires 30 rounds of chemotherapy, and a major reconstructive surgery sandwiched in between. The surgery will require a custom implant made of metal and plastic, that will take the place of her tibia in an attempt to save her leg. In spite of these challenges, Shelby's resilience shines through.

Shelby and her family's lives have had to change dramatically in order to battle this disease. Inpatient chemotherapy treatments are a weekly occurrence, causing wages, hours, and compensation to be lost. Donations are desperately needed to help with medical expenses, travel to and from appointments, and basic necessities needed to navigate through this life-changing journey.

With these new found challenges it has been a struggle to make ends meet, and to accommodate Shelby's needs during her treatment. It was at this very crossroads where I realized that they desperately needed help from family, friends, and our community.

If you can find it within your hearts, any and all help is welcome. The hashtag #ShelbyStrong is the banner we will hold high. We appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers, and support, and much more of these things will be needed in the months to come.

In closing, I would like to share a few quotes that encapsulate Shelby's grit and determination throughout this battle:

“Every victorious warrior draws his/her strength from the highest source; his/her love.” – Tapan Ghosh

“She is a little wildflower with a lot of warrior underneath.” – Melody Lee