Help Sammie Beat Brain Cancer

My name is Mike Sottile and I am asking for your support in raising funds to help my beloved girlfriend, Sammie Bigham, as she valiantly fights brain cancer. Sammie lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania and works at Harriton High School, her alma mater. She is a beautiful, vibrant, active and loving 24-year-old woman at the very beginning of her adult life as a high school history teacher and middle school girls' soccer coach. Sammie is the best big sister, beloved girlfriend, daughter, friend and much more to so many people who know and love her.

Her life changed dramatically in December 2022 when she receive the news that she had a sizeable tumor growing on her brain stem. She was initially told the tumor was most likely benign; however, after two surgeries it was confirmed that it was Medulloblastoma, a malignant growth rarely found in adults.

Sammie is fortunate to have access to specialists at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, PA with experience in this type of cancer. Her team includes neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiologists, nurses, fertility specialists, social workers, therapists and many others. She began radiation therapy on January 26th and will receive 30 sessions over six weeks. She will begin chemotherapy two weeks into radiation and continue with chemotherapy protocol until April 2024. She will likely be very sick and lose her gorgeous, long blonde hair. Her team and family are hopeful she will be cancer-free at the end of the treatment and able to resume her pursuit of a long and adventurous life.

Your support will help Sammie during this next year while she is unable to work. It will help with medical expenses, the purchase of wigs, travel expenses for loved ones to provide support, the means to take her little sister (Izzy) to see the New York Rangers when she is feeling well enough, indulging in Starbucks and any food that she may find appetizing and so much more.

Sammie, her family and I greatly appreciate the outpouring of love and support and thank you for your kindness and generosity.