Hi, I’m Aunt Tonya (Tonya McKinley), proudly and loudly, to Conner Scarboro. And honestly, being his aunt is one of my greatest joys.

If you’ve ever met Conner, you already know he’s one of those rare souls who lights up a room just by walking into it. And if you haven’t met him yet, I wish you could, because you’d love him just as much as we do. Conner isn’t just my nephew — he’s one of my favorite humans on the planet.

He is the beloved son of Woody and Shelly Scarboro, two of the most dedicated, faith-filled parents I know. They have walked every step of this journey with him, with a quiet strength that only parents who fiercely love their child can carry.

Conner is so much more than a diagnosis — he’s a bright, funny, faith-filled 22-year-old with a heart that makes you want to be a better human, and a deep love for Jesus that shows in every part of his life. If you know him, you know exactly what I mean. He’s a senior at UNCG, gifted in music, passionately following Jesus, and he has this remarkable way of making everyone around him laugh, even when life feels heavy.

What most people don’t see is the quiet courage he’s carried his whole life.

Conner has battled a rare blood disorder since he was little. At first, doctors believed it was ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia) — a condition where his immune system destroys his platelets. His family was told that many kids grow out of it, and they held onto that hope with everything they had. But his platelets kept dropping lower and lower. Eventually, during his first year of college, an adult hematologist ordered a bone marrow biopsy. That test changed everything.

The biopsy revealed that Conner didn’t have ITP at all — he had a very rare bone marrow disease (a rare form of Aplastic Anemia).

His journey started way back at age 2 when a small cut on his hand just wouldn’t stop bleeding. For years, nothing showed up in tests. Then at age 5, after becoming suddenly very sick, the ER discovered terrifyingly low platelet levels. That’s when Brenner Children’s Hospital diagnosed him. And even though everyone prayed he would outgrow it, Conner’s platelet count has dropped as low as 8,000, forcing him into weekly transfusions — all while trying to juggle college and a part-time job.

Now the road ahead requires even more strength.

Conner’s doctors have determined that a bone marrow transplant is the best path forward. This will involve chemotherapy, radiation, 4–6 weeks in strict hospital isolation, and a long recovery of 6–12 months. His parents, Woody and Shelly, will take turns staying with him throughout the hospital stay. Once he’s home, Conner will need 24-hour care for two months and very limited contact with others.

Woody and Shelly are prepared to do whatever it takes to support their son — but it comes with significant financial pressure.

Woody is self-employed, which means if he isn’t working, he isn’t earning. Their health insurance premiums recently increased by 500%, and Conner still has his own monthly expenses. This is not about extras — it’s simply about being able to care for their son without worrying about how to keep the household afloat.

Through all of this, Conner has shown incredible faith. He has made the brave decision to move forward with the transplant, trusting God with every step of this journey. We believe — wholeheartedly — that his story will become a testimony of healing, hope, and God’s goodness.

How You Can Help

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Spreading the word expands the community of people who can pray, support, and uplift Conner and his family.

Pray

This is powerful. Join us in believing God for complete and miraculous healing.

If giving isn’t possible right now, please know this: your prayers, faith, and encouragement are priceless.

Thank you — from the depths of our hearts — for standing with Conner and with Woody and Shelly. Thank you for believing for healing. Thank you for helping carry this weight so they don’t have to walk it alone.

We are clinging to Romans 8:28, trusting that God truly works all things together for good. And we believe Conner’s victory is already unfolding.