Abbie's Angels

10/08/2026

As a parent, you never imagine having to watch your child fight for their life. But when your child has Down syndrome and is also diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, the journey becomes one that few people can truly understand.

At Abbie’s Angels, this is a perspective that is deeply personal to us 🪽❤️💙

Raising a child with Down syndrome comes with its own unique experiences, challenges and milestones. You learn to advocate differently. You celebrate victories that others may take for granted. You become your child's voice when the world doesn't always understand their needs.

Now imagine adding pediatric cancer to that journey. The hospital stays. The painful procedures. The overwhelming medical decisions. The fear of the unknown.

And through it all, trying to help your child understand what is happening to their body, especially when communication, sensory sensitivities or developmental differences may make an already terrifying experience even harder.

For parents, it means advocating on multiple levels. Making sure medical teams understand not only the cancer diagnosis, but the child behind it - their needs, fears, abilities and way of communicating.

Our amazing children are so much more than their diagnoses!

During Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we want to recognize the families who are exhausted from explaining, advocating, comforting and fighting and the incredible children who deserve to be included and supported every step of the way.

At Abbie’s Angels, we believe every child deserves care that recognizes their individuality and every family deserves a community that understands their journey.

This month, and every month, we stand with families navigating both worlds. 💛💙💛💙

09/28/2026

Thank you for highlighting our girl Sophia The Fierce Inc in honor of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month 💛

Meet Abbie
Abbie's Angels

Abbie was diagnosed January 16th with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. It is a rare form of cancer that attacks muscle tissue. Approximately 400-500 cases are diagnosed nationwide, representing an incidence rate of 1 per million, with a poor prognosis. It was an incredibly hard day because it was my sister’s birthday, who ironically happens to also be her “other unofficial” pediatric oncologist.
Abbie was immediately hospitalized after her first visit with Dr. Twist due to elevated bloodwork indicating a problem with her kidney function. It was after her scans that we learned the cancer, originating in her left calf, had metastasized to a larger tumor in her abdomen that was causing these issues with her kidney.
She had surgery on January 19th to place a mediport in her right side chest and began chemotherapy that same day. From there, much was a blur, but the plan was to start Abbie on a protocol of chemotherapy that included 3 drugs to be administered every 3 weeks in an overnight hospital environment. There were many complications, including both Abbie and me being diagnosed with Covid-19, which placed us in isolation for almost 3 months with no access to make a connection with other families or oncology nurses.
The Drs. eventually readjusted her dosage because of the complications with the chemotherapy drugs. Abbie also had such a traumatic experience from the side effects causing mucositis, that she refused to eat, ending in our decision to place a g-tube in her for nutrition to keep her stable enough to administer the drugs.
After roughly 3 months in the hospital, we were finally on the right track for a routine schedule of her chemotherapy and able to plan our visits on the 12th floor of OCH where we made the connections with new families and excellent and meaningful relationships with the nurses and Drs. The therapy included 14 rounds of the drug cocktails that ended in December 2022, 2 rounds of radiation, one consisting of 33 proton treatments at Roswell, and the other of 28 photon treatments in NYC.
Abbie had her first scans on December 7th after the protocol was completed; the tumors were gone! She rang the bell on January 19th, 2023! Abbie then received a different cocktail of chemotherapy drugs for maintenance that she was on for 1 year.
Abbie’s subsequent scans were stable for 6 months with no medical intervention until the next scan showed a new small growth. She underwent 6 months of a new chemotherapy drug, which initially had a life-threatening effect on her, causing hospitalization to get it under control, ending with another new drug and one week of radiation which managed the growth, ultimately with a clean scan.
Abbie was clean for 1 year from April 2025 to April 2026, when a new growth appeared behind her left shoulder blade. The growth was small enough requiring only radiation. However, we were told that she would no longer be a candidate for any more chemotherapy should the cancer return again; her body just can't handle it.
Abbie has been left with much damage to the left calf muscle, exacerbated by the chemotherapy. She receives PT twice weekly and required surgical intervention to "untether" the damage in her left ankle to improve mobility; she still fatigues and will sometimes require a wheelchair for extended walking. Her left kidney has minimal to no function.
Despite all she has been through, Abbie is doing well with much love and support from so many! We are all making this journey with her support system with all opportunities to live each day as the best day ever! Her greatest love is her family and her buddy, Josh Allen. She also has a love for superheroes, her first love being Batman, then Spiderman. Abbie loves, loves, loves to swim, play nerf guns, ride her monster car, and generally be outside, especially at campgrounds! She shines best when she gets an opportunity to sing and dance for you; just ask her to sing Thunderstruck of Golden!
Her first “different” ability of Down Syndrome has challenges but has not stopped Abbie from enjoying life and being a super awesome kiddo; she’s as genuine as they get!
In response to all she has been through and continues to shine, and the love and community support we received and continue to receive, we created a foundation in her name: Abbie's Angels. Because, even in our hardest moments, we encountered so many angels that helped us get through so many obstacles (and still face) we never would've triumphed over without them! And Abbie will be waiting with a hug for all of the angels!

💛Loving told by
Stacie, Abbie’s mom

09/17/2026

THE NEWS IS OUT 🤩

Abbie is featured by ESPN alongside her bestie #17 Josh Allen. Here are the exact words ESPN said about Abbie and Josh's inseparable bond both on and off the football field:

"How deep does the devotion run? From backyards to bedroom walls to the back seat of Lou and Stacie McNett's car, where their 13-year-old daughter, Abbie, hugs one of her ever-present Joshy Bears. The McNetts are driving home from a late August doctor's appointment in a good mood. They've experienced too many rolling emotions over the past few years, and they've learned to appreciate the small victories.

Abbie has Down syndrome and a rare form of cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Her parents bought her first Joshy Bear -- "for inspiration," Stacey says -- when Abbie spent three months in a New York City hospital. After Abbie left the hospital and returned to Buffalo, she met Allen, gave him an "Abbie Bear" and had him sign her Joshy Bear. There are now three of each, with one Abbie Bear waiting at home with the McNetts, waiting to be delivered to Allen. Abbie has called Allen her best friend ever since their first meeting.

"The bears," Stacie says. "It's their thing. He goes everywhere with her." 💙❤️

Read the FULL ARTICLE at the link below. GO BILLS!

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49941549/josh-allen-buffalo-bills-super-bowl-hopes

09/17/2026

Something BIG is coming. And this one is about Abbie and her bestie.

Stay tuned to our social media… you won’t want to miss this! 😍

09/09/2026

Join us for "Burgers & Blues" at The Chandelier Bar inside Salvatore's Hospitality on Thursday, October 29th for an evening of great food, live music and giving back!

Live blues music kicks off at 6 PM and throughout the night, 20% of sales/proceeds will be donated back to Abbie’s Angels to help us continue supporting neurodivergent children and families impacted by critical illness.

No tickets necessary!

Special giveaways & prizes throughout the night!!

Grab your family, friends or your girl gang and make a night of it! Your support helps us continue our mission of being there for families when they need it most. 🫶🏼

See you in October! 🍂🍸🍷

09/05/2026

Abbie loved spending time at the Shakir Adoption event to support helping local animals in need of homes. Watch for a special Abbie smile ☺️

09/02/2026

To all moms,

September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. 🎗️

Before cancer became part of our family’s story, September was simply another month. Another season of school starting, schedules getting busier and watching our children grow.

But when you become a cancer mom, September means something entirely different.

My daughter has been fighting cancer for many, many years. We have celebrated good scans and held our breath waiting for results. We have experienced moments of hope and the heartbreak of hearing that Abbie's cancer had returned.

Relapse changes you. Cancer changes you.

It teaches you how quickly life can change and how precious the ordinary moments really are. It teaches you to celebrate things you once took for granted.

As moms, we spend so much of our lives trying to protect our children. But pediatric cancer puts you in a position no mother should ever have to experience. Like watching your child face something you cannot take away from them.

That is why September matters so much to me! 💯

This month gives us an opportunity to turn the world GOLD. It's a time to share our children’s stories, recognize the doctors, nurses, researchers and organizations fighting alongside our families and to raise money for research.

It's also a moment to support families whose lives have been turned upside down by a diagnosis.

But... pediatric cancer does not only exist in September.

Families need us in October. They need us in January. They need us on the day of diagnosis, during treatment, after a relapse, during long hospital stays and in the moments when everything feels uncertain.

That is one of the reasons we started Abbie’s Angels.

Our own journey showed us just how quickly a family can find itself in crisis. When your child is sick, the rest of life does not stop. There are meals to provide, transportation to figure out and countless expenses that no family ever planned for.

Sometimes families simply need someone to say, "We see you, and you are not doing this alone."

That is what we want Abbie’s Angels to be. ❤️😇🪽

This September, I am asking my fellow moms, and our entire community, to pay attention. Learn about pediatric cancer, share a child’s story and donate if you are able. Support organizations helping families.

And when September ends, please don't stop. Keep showing up.

Behind every gold ribbon is a child who deserves the chance to grow up. And behind that child is a mom, a dad, siblings, grandparents and an entire family hoping with everything they have for more time, more milestones and more ordinary days together.

From one mom to another, thank you for standing beside our children, not only during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, but every single day of the year!

With love and hope,
Abbies mom, Stacie