All-Star Cambria

“The support from Pinky Swear made Cambria feel like somebody cared. A lot of her friends are not around anymore because she cannot do a whole lot. But now she knows somebody is thinking of her.” All-Start Cambria’s mom, Cindy 

Cambria went from an active 15-year-old who got straight A’s in school, to wondering if she’d ever be able to have children someday.

She was a pretty typical teenager. She was involved in drama, choir, cheer, and track. And like a lot of teenage girls, she loves spending time with her boyfriend.

Cambria never was sick, so when she started having back pain and her throat hurt, her mother, Cindy, knew something was wrong.

Cindy took her daughter to the doctor, where she insisted she have an X-ray.  What they found concerned them, and Cambria was immediately transported to the Children’s Hospital, where her diagnosis was confirmed: She had leukemia.

Life changed immediately for the active teenager and her mom.

As they sat in the hospital room, Cambria cried as she told her mother she didn’t want to die. Cindy, being a mother, wanted to take it all away.

Over the next several weeks, Cambria learned more about her diagnosis and the treatment she would have to endure. She embraced losing her hair, and her boyfriend, who has been a constant source of comfort, shaved his head in support.

Cambria learned that because of her age and being a girl, her cancer is higher risk. Because of this, her treatment won’t end until 2027 or 2028. By then she will be 18, and many precious teenage years will have been disrupted by her illness.

She has been in-and-out of school. She has stopped most of her activities and has had to delay normal teenage rites of passage, such as getting her driver’s license and going to the homecoming dance.

One question Cambria has asked is if she’ll be able to have kids of her own.

“It breaks my heart,” her mother said. “I just don’t know what to say to her about that kind of stuff.”

Her daughter’s cancer diagnosis came as Cindy was already struggling financially. She was diagnosed with a heart problem and had to stop working. She is waiting for Social Security disability benefits to be paid.

“It’s been overwhelming at times,” Cindy said. “A couple of times I lost a little bit of hope, and I cried a lot behind closed doors, but never around Cambria. I was worried, and I knew we needed help.”

Cindy’s social worker gave her information about Pinky Swear, and she went online and filled out the application.

Cindy and Cambria received the Orange Envelope gift card package, which includes a $200 gift card and letters of encouragement. It helped the family pay for gas and groceries.

Pinky Swear also later approved the family for assistance through the All-Star Fund, which provides financial support for everyday expenses, including mortgage and rent payments, utility bills, car payments, and groceries.

The All-Star Fund came right before Cambria’s 16th birthday, and it helped her family celebrate. They were able to have cake in the hospital, go out for dinner, and visit the aquarium. Cambria also received gifts, like a pair of earrings, that she might not otherwise have received.

“It was a big relief,” Cindy said. “Your kid only turns 16 once.”

She talked about the impact the All-Star fund assistance had on her family.

“It helped more than you will ever know,” Cindy said. “Pinky Swear has been amazing. It makes me cry thinking about it. The help came not long after her diagnosis. I needed help badly, and I do not know what I would have done without it.”

Cindy said she can’t thank Pinky Swear donors enough for the help they provide when a cancer diagnosis turns a family's world upside down. She hopes to return the favor one day.

“I plan to donate one day,” Cindy said. “I promise to do that.”