Abigail’s Journey: From Diagnosis to Ringing the Bell

Abigail is only six years old, but in her short life, she has already faced more battles than most adults will ever know.

Her journey began in September 2023, just one day before her sister’s 10th birthday. What should have been a time of celebration quickly became a season of shock and fear. At only four years old, Abigail was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma — a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

For her parents, those words felt like the ground disappearing beneath their feet. One moment, their daughter was a bright, playful little girl; the next, they were plunged into a world of medical terms, treatment plans, and life-or-death decisions.

The treatment plan was grueling, something no child should ever have to endure. It began with surgery to remove the tumor. The thought of their tiny daughter being wheeled into an operating room was almost unbearable for her parents, but Abigail faced it with a kind of quiet bravery that inspired everyone around her.

The surgery was only the first step. A central line was placed to allow for ongoing treatment, and soon after came the rounds of chemotherapy. Six cycles of high-dose chemotherapy followed, each one demanding more from Abigail’s little body. Alongside chemo came a bone marrow transplant — an experience that tested her resilience in ways no child should have to endure.

To protect her future, her doctors also performed ovary cryo-preservation. It was an extra measure, one that gave her family a bittersweet kind of hope: a reminder of all that might one day be possible, and of how far away those dreams seemed during the endless days of treatment.

The harsh treatments required more support for her fragile body. Abigail needed an NG tube to ensure she could receive the nutrition her body required to stay strong enough to keep fighting. Her parents watched as their once-energetic little girl became tethered to tubes and machines, yet still she smiled, still she fought, and still she lit up the hospital halls with her presence.

Every step of the journey was brutal. There were days when nausea consumed her, when exhaustion left her too weak to speak, when the weight of everything she had endured seemed far too much for someone so small. And yet, even in those moments, Abigail showed a spirit that amazed everyone. She would hold onto her stuffed toys, flash a tired but determined smile, and remind her parents that she was still there, still fighting, still herself.

Her family leaned on each other in ways they never imagined possible. Her older sister had to grow up faster than her years, learning to be both supportive and patient while her little sister went through treatment. Friends and extended family stepped in with meals, prayers, and countless acts of love.

Then came April 2024. After months of relentless treatments, hospital stays, procedures, and tears, Abigail finished her planned treatment. It felt almost unreal to her parents — the kind of milestone they had longed for but barely dared to hope for in the darkest days.

On July 30, 2024, a sound echoed through the hospital halls that her family will never forget: the ringing of the bell. Abigail, just five years old at the time, stood proudly and rang the bell to mark the end of her cancer treatment. Confetti, claps, and tears filled the room. For her parents, it was a moment of release — release from months of tension, from fear that never left their chests, from nights of lying awake praying for just one more tomorrow.

The bell did not erase what she had endured. It did not take away the scars or the side effects. But it marked victory, courage, and a future that now felt possible again.

Today, Abigail shows no evidence of disease. Those words are the most beautiful gift to her family, words they repeat to themselves when they tuck her into bed at night, when they watch her laugh, when they see her playing again like the child she was meant to be.

But her journey has left lasting marks. As a result of her treatment, Abigail has hearing loss and now wears hearing aids. It is another adjustment, another reminder of what cancer has taken. And yet, true to her nature, Abigail wears them with pride. They are not symbols of limitation, but of survival. They tell the story of a girl who fought something so much bigger than herself and emerged still smiling, still determined, still shining.

Her parents say she amazes them every single day. They see her courage in the way she runs into life with open arms. They see her strength in the way she doesn’t let challenges hold her back. They see her determination in the way she insists on living fully, no matter what.

Abigail’s story is more than a timeline of treatments and medical milestones. It is a story of resilience, of community, of the power of love and prayer. It is a story of a family who walked through the darkest valley and found light again in the laughter of their little girl.

As part of the Go Gold campaign for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Abigail’s story stands as a beacon of hope. She represents not only her own fight but the fight of countless children and families who face childhood cancer every single day.

Ringing the bell was not the end of the story — it was the beginning of a new chapter. One filled with healing, with adjusting to a new normal, with celebrating milestones both big and small. And while the scars of treatment will always remain, so too will the lessons: that courage can be found in the smallest bodies, that hope can carry us through the darkest nights, and that the human spirit is capable of more than we ever realize until it is tested.

Abigail is six years old. She has hearing aids, scars, and memories no child should ever have to carry. But she also has a smile that lights up the world, a family who will never stop cheering her on, and a story that reminds us all to fight for brighter tomorrows.

And for now, she has the most precious gift of all: no evidence of disease.

Branson’s Back Scratch: Small Moments, Big Courage.533

Monday, August 11th brought another chapter in the courageous journey of 11-year-old Branson Blevins, a brave boy from Robertsdale, Alabama, who has been fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. After enduring weeks of treatment in Rome, Italy, Branson achieved a milestone that his family had long prayed for—he was officially declared cancer-free following a life-saving stem cell transplant from his mother, Nichole.

But even in victory, the battle continued. Over the past few days, Branson had been experiencing fevers, a reminder that healing is a journey, not a single moment. Despite the discomfort and the uncertainty, his spirit remained unbroken. With Nichole and his father Donald by his side, Branson faced each day with quiet courage, showing resilience far beyond his years.

Amid the medical procedures, the medications, and the hospital routines, Nichole shared a simple, heartwarming moment that captured the true essence of their daily life together. She texted a photo and a few words that reminded everyone that even in the toughest times, there are small joys that make the struggle meaningful.

“I will never get tired of hearing ‘Mama, can you scratch my back?’ 🧡,” Nichole wrote. That simple request—a back scratch, a gentle touch—speaks volumes about the bond between mother and son, about the moments of love that persist even in the shadow of illness. It’s a reminder that bravery is not just measured in enduring pain or conquering disease, but also in the ability to feel, to connect, and to cherish these tender slices of everyday life.

The Blevins family’s journey is one that resonates with countless parents and children around the world. It’s a story of courage, of love that knows no bounds, and of the sacrifices a family is willing to make for a child. Branson has already shown what it means to fight, to persevere, and to embrace life even in the most challenging circumstances.

As Branson navigates this next phase of recovery, the support from his community—both near and far—provides warmth and encouragement. Messages, prayers, and well wishes remind the family that they are not alone, and that Branson’s courage inspires hope in everyone who follows his journey.

May Branson’s fevers subside, may his recovery continue smoothly, and may every small moment of comfort, like a simple back scratch from Mama, remind him that love surrounds him at every step. For Branson and his family, each day is a triumph, each smile a victory, and each heartbeat a reminder that hope never wavers.