Abby, who is 19 years old, and her family are in need of support.

In the summer of 2023, Abby began experiencing pain in her head, shoulder, and neck. She was taken to the Lake Norman Emergency Room weekly, where her family repeatedly requested an MRI, but one was not performed. In January 2024, Abby’s mother took her to their local doctor and requested imaging. At that time, a tumor was discovered on Abby’s head.

Doctors diagnosed Abby with a rare bone cancer called chondrosarcoma, a rare brain tumor affecting the bone. Abby was rushed to Novant Health in Charlotte for an emergency procedure to remove the tumor. Doctors informed the family that she had a 20% chance of losing her left eye and becoming paralyzed on the entire left side of her body. Three days later, Abby woke up from a coma.

Following surgery, Abby required six months of chemotherapy and treatment. The following month, she was transferred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she stayed for four months. While at St. Jude, Abby suffered a stroke and remained hospitalized for an additional two months. In the summer of 2025, Abby rang the final treatment bell.

Toward the end of 2025, Abby began experiencing neck pain again and went to the emergency room at Novant Health in Huntersville on January 15. Blood work revealed abnormalities, and her care team informed her father that chemotherapy had severely impacted her white blood cells, leaving them critically low. Further testing confirmed that Abby’s cancer had returned, and she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Abby now requires a bone marrow transplant so her blood cells can regenerate properly. This week, Abby and her family will return to St. Jude for additional blood work to determine whether a suitable bone marrow match is available. Abby currently has a central line in her chest and is undergoing treatment. She will receive approximately two months of treatment in North Carolina before transferring back to St. Jude in Tennessee for the bone marrow transplant.

The family will use any donated funds to help cover unexpected medical expenses, transportation to and from the hospital, and basic living costs. While at St. Jude, the hospital will only cover their mortgage for a limited time. After that, the family will be responsible for payments while being unable to work. Abby’s father is currently working by himself, and his job is the family’s only source of income. He will be relying solely on income tax funds to help cover utilities until he is able to return to work full-time.

Any support, no matter how small, would mean so much to Abby and her family during this incredibly difficult time.