‘Fight for all you’ve got’

Ally Nelson should be doing normal 14-year-old things: playing sports, going to school and enjoying time with her friends. She shouldn’t be waiting and praying for that fateful word – remission.

The Chelsea High School freshman was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in March 2012 when a tumor was found wrapped around her left femur bone. She handled months of chemo and the replacement of her femur with a prosthetic, which made her legs different lengths and gave her a limp. Her mother, Christina Nelson, said Ally, then 12, went through everything with the maturity of an adult.

“She took it better than all of us. She was more concerned about other people than she was with herself,” Christina said.

Ally was declared cancer-free in November 2012, enabling her to return to school and her hobbies of singing in the choir, sketching clothing designs and hanging out with her friends. In February 2014, however, the doctors at Children’s of Alabama found that she was no longer in remission, and the cancer had moved to her lungs.

Two more surgeries followed to attempt to remove the cancer again. The Nelsons have been waiting since June to hear if they were successful. Christina said they couldn’t have gotten through the ordeal without prayer and help from their friends and church, The Connection. 

In September, the church held a “Go Gold for Ally” fundraiser, which included a baked goods and craft sale. Kim Parmley, a self-described “crafty person,” organized the event after working with Christina in the church nursery. The event included around 20 vendors and more than 50 silent auction items. Parmley said the church raised $5,500 for Ally’s medical bills. On the day of the sale, Christina said she was “just in awe” of everyone’s willingness to lend a hand. 

“I absolutely adore the family,” Parmley said. “Any way I can help them, I would do it in a heartbeat.”

The fundraisers are not over yet. Parmley said several vendors, including local Pampered Chef and Jamberry sales representatives, have been donating portions of their proceeds to the Nelson family, and more fundraisers are in the works.

“We’ve had the best community support; our friends, our church are amazing,” Christina said. “Our family’s all up in Ohio, so having our people here – we don’t call them friends, they are family to us.”

As she waits to learn whether she has entered remission again, Ally is continuing to stay strong and keep praying. Her experience fighting cancer has given her wisdom about her young life.

“I just don’t take life for granted and don’t have regrets. Everything happens for a reason,” Ally said. “Fight for all you’ve got.”