Tori's Story

Imagine being a parent and not being able to protect your child from harm or sickness.  There is nothing in the world like feeling helpless.  Our family was hit with a life changing event in 2011.  Please read our daughter’s story in her very own words.  (Her story was edited as little as possible to preserve authenticity of Tori’s perspective.)“My life changed when I was nine years old. I was in the fourth grade second trimester. Everything was great. I loved going outside and playing with my neighbors and riding bikes. I was very active I wanted to do a lot of sports, like volleyball, softball, tennis, basketball, and gymnastics. Then one day, I came inside from playing and my leg just hurt really bad. My parents thought it was a pulled muscle since I always got bruises, scraps, and cuts all the time. Over time the pain went off and on. In the mornings, I would be so active, but then later the afternoon I would be limping. A lot of people thought I was faking so I would be able to get “special treatment”. I faced the pain with a brave face and did all the normal things I did.

March 16th, 2011 I was going to P.E. and I couldn’t run or do any of the exercises. My coaches knew something was wrong because I always tried my best NO MATTER WHAT. The assistant coach wrapped my arm around her and took me to the golf cart and rode to the front office. She took me inside to the nurse’s office. The nurse examined me and noticed how enlarged and hard my leg felt. She called my mom immediately to pick me up. The coach left and said she hoped I felt better. I took a nap and awaited my mom to arrive. After thirty minutes she finally made it. She came in with a panic. The nurse told her the news and said she recommend to take me to my physician as soon as possible.

We rode into town to my pediatrician, Dr. Long, he said he needed to send us to the hospital for test. My dad met us there after the entire test were completed. We  went back to my pediatrician office, to receive the results; they had told us it was a large tumor and could be cancer, and that we had to go to Shands hospital. The next morning we arrived they did more test, I was assigned a orthopedic surgeon (leg doctor). His name was Dr. Gibbs. He sat us in a room and explained what we were going to do to get rid of the cancer.

First by doing a biopsy on my leg, he asked if they could use the information for research, we replied with a yes anything to find a cure to this horrible disease. After the surgery I was told that I would do ten months of chemo, and not to walk on my leg at all. June 2nd, 2011 I got a 360-rotation plasty, which means that my knee, and some of my calf was cut off and the rest of my leg was turned around backwards and moved up to my thigh. I did not finish chemo until November 22th, 2011 that was my ten-month work. 

I went back to school January 6th, 2012 for fifth grade, everyone was very accepting, kind, and loving to my situation. Through on sixth grade I had some surgery’s to remove tumors, but then I was fine, I had one surgery to stop my growing because I was growing too fast.

Over the summer, 2013 I got cancer in my lungs, but it was so close to my heart that if we did surgery to remove the tumor it would be open-heart surgery, so we had to go through chemo again, I ended chemo on November 22nd, 2013. I went through the rest of seventh grade, and the beginning of my 8th grade year.

Over the winter break  of 2014 we had appointment to go to Shands for my three-month check-up. December 22nd, 2014 we received the worst news than all the rest…


The doctors did not give Tori long to live.  They originally said a week to 3 weeks to a month.  That was a few weeks ago.  We know that God does not make mistakes, even when we do not understand why he chooses us for certain trials.  It sounds rather cliché’, but it is so true. What we believe is that prayer and faith can change any situation.  When the doctor says no, Jesus can still say yes.  He has written our story from beginning to end before we ever stepped one foot on this earth.  And, even if the situation does not change, the Lord will change us to handle whatever comes our way.  

Many of you have expressed that you would like to donate to our family to help during this challenging season. We have set up this account because of your kindness towards us.  We truly appreciate the prayers, love, and support from each and every one of you.  Thank you for donating.  

We believe that Tori will have a miraculous testimony to share with the world.  And, the …will be replaced with a period to end this chapter.

Her wish list:
A walk in shower with a bench.
A week at a beach house somewhere in Florida.
Her dream vacation has always been to see either New York, Paris or Hawaii.

Your generosity will help with:
Medical Bills
Daily medications
Trips to Shands in Gainesville Florida

We pray blessings upon you for blessing us!

























2.17.15: Thank you to Mr. Jimbo Fischer and staff for your visit with Tori and the  FSU goodies.
2.17.15: Thank you Nikki from Cutz and  Curlz  for Tori's new free gorgeous hairstyle!

2.20.15: Thank you to Wilde Construction for making one of Tori's wishes come true with her new bathroom.  
Tori and Mr. Wilde Thank you  Dr. Marc Inglese for the beautiful beach house for Tori's  Spring Break 



Thank you to Collins Vacation Rental for the beautiful welcome basket