Abbie has never had an easy life. Born with Down Syndrome, she has faced her fair share of trials and tribulations in her short life, but she has always been an upbeat, happy little girl filled with joy.
She loves Batman, Nerf Guns, camping, swimming, playing video games with her dad Lou, and helping her mom Stacie cook.
After weeks of complaints about pain in her left leg, Lou and Stacie felt it necessary to have her evaluated by a doctor. On Jan. 11, 2022, they received unfathomable news; every parent’s worst nightmare. Abbie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive cancer with no cure. Her treatment plan will include intensive chemotherapy and radiation with the hope her cancer will go into remission while the doctors and researchers continue to look for a cure for this awful disease.
This sweet beautiful girl and her parents have had their lives flipped upside down. While Abbie goes through these treatments, it is imperative that her parents be by her side. Lost time at work coupled with crippling medical expenses have left that family struggling to stay afloat. These costs add up so quickly, and while it is only a small comfort, alleviating some of the financial burden for this family allows them to focus on what matters most, Abbie and her healing process.
A medical benefit will be held for Abby tomorrow, Saturday, May 7, 2022 from noon to 5 p.m. at Rescue Fire Hall, 1241 Strad Ave., in North Tonawanda.
“Our family has received unwavering support from day one with family, friends, and even the kindness of strangers. We had never imagined how hard this journey was going to be. Being strong was not something we learned overnight. And there are still days we feel defeated. But the prayers and words of encouragement is what builds our strength to get through another day. We can only contribute that to the waves of love that have been shown by this community. Even as families struggle through these difficult times, people have gone out of their way to show compassion and genuine concern to our little girl. That makes my heart happy. That keeps us going. And that reminds us just how much people need each other. Our journey is not over and we are holding fast to hope! One day when we can look back and remember how we got to the finish line, we will pay it forward to the next family! We have felt the depth of love and support that needs to be shared with other families facing this awful disease. And it will be because of the love that has been shown to our family that we will be able to share that with others! Thank you seems so small in words. But from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We love you!”
If you can’t make the benefit, you can make a donation to help here: www.gofundme.com/f/uv6pfe-help-for-abbie.
Watch our surprise for Abbie on WIVB News 4 Buffalo!
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Thank you to our friends at Basil Toyota & Basil Volkswagen for helping us in our mission to share stories that make a difference.
