As many know, Samantha wasn’t feeling right on November 22nd and was at a loss for words (rare for her) at her job at Highland Community Schools. Her co-workers contacted her husband, Josh, and they ended up taking her to the UofI hospital. Doctors found a rather large tumor (larger than a baseball) on her brain that would need to be extracted (surgery) before Thanksgiving. It was Grade 1, meaning no radiation in the future, and came back benign after waiting patiently for over a week to get the news post-surgery!

Sam (and Josh) spent Thanksgiving in the hospital as her surgery was completed on November 27th, while their beautiful, nearly 2-year-old daughter Marley stayed with family. The surgeons were able to remove the entire tumor successfully, but there is still a long road to recovery ahead. All that know Sam know she’s as tough as they come and has been her amazing, joyful, and kind self through the entire process.

She will be off of work through at least February and anyone that’s experienced surgery knows hospital bills are insane. Please help this family in any way possible! If you can’t support financially, at the very least we ask you to SHARE on your social network to spread the word to as many as possible. Samantha is and remains a true ray of sunshine to anyone and everyone she encounters and this courageous, bad a$$ Coach/Mom and her beautiful young family could really use the help!