Gracie Strong, 600 Churchville Avenue (Route 250) (2026)

12/10/2026

EIGHT years!! 🥹🙏 My beautiful girl is so miraculous and no doubt, will do BIG THINGS in life. Happy 8th Liverversary Gracie!! 💚 So very Grateful!

Eight years ago on October 11, we received the call that they had a liver for Gracie that they felt would be a great match. Oddly enough, when we went to bed the night before, October 10, Gracie said we were going to get a call for her liver! 🥹 I remember that day...every single thing about that day. The weather...rainy and gloomy; I remember what I was wearing. I remember being so overwhelmed with emotions of Gracie actually getting a liver but also thinking about the donor's family. It was a LONG 2 days for sure. After we got to UVA, it was still a waiting game. We were sent to PICU to prepare. Finally in the evening they told us that the weather was too bad for flying but they had her booked on the Transplant Surgery room for the next morning. I don't think I slept that night. I laid in bed watching her sleep... I cried, I prayed ...not only for Gracie but also her donor and their family. On October 12 around 1130 we were taken down to pre-op with Miss Tina from Child Life by her side. While we were all waiting in the pre-op room, Gracie was singing "Let it Go" and playing on the tablet. She was wheeled to the Transplant Operating room just like that. 💚 After about 11 LONG hours we were able to see her again. She was hooked to so many lines and machines but she was resting and looked so good to us. One of these pictures are right out of Transplant but here she is, our beautiful girl! 💚 I thank God EVERY DAY for blessing her with this perfect liver and giving THANKS to her donor family for giving the Gift Of Life!! Some people post or speak so much negativity about organ donation but like childhood cancer, until YOU are in those shoes, you truly do not fully understand. She has now lived longer with this liver than she did with her own! 🙏 She's fought through relapse and rejection since her Transplant but she's been a trooper!! She is truly such an inspiration to me...my HERO!! In my eyes, Gracie is the epitome of Strengh! Please, as we send our praises to God for giving this Gift of Life to Gracie 8 years ago, please continue to pray for peace and comfort for the donor's family as they are grieving in remembrance. I am so blessed and honored that they chose to Give, such a selfless donation!! I have thought about them since October 11, 2018. I hope we can connect with the family and find out everything about her donor so we are able to honor them in specific ways. Are you an Organ donor? I was before this ever happened but now it means so much more!! 💙💚 October is ALSO Liver Cancer Awareness Month! 💚🙏🎗

We are blessed to have the working relationship of UVA Pediatric Liver Transplant Team and UPMC Pediatric Liver Transplant Team. 💚

18/09/2026

SURVIVOR! 🎗
There are so many thoughts and feelings but it is so hard to put them in words that really express our joy! To keep it short & sweet, like Gracie 😉 GOD IS SO GOOD! 🙏💛 After 8 years, 3 months and 2 days, Gracie enters Survivorship!! Again, God is SO GOOD!!! # #

10/09/2026

5 years ago, Gracie rang the bell 🔔 Next Thursday, she goes for her BIG 5 year appointment and testing! 🎗 There's SO MANY EMOTIONS about this one. If all is clear, she will be declared a SURVIVOR. 🥹 To be honest, that is so hard to write. PLEASE pray for Gracie to be a survivor for MANY MANY years!! 🙏

08/08/2026

Happy 13th Birthday Gracie!! 🎂🎊🥳🎉 Finally a TEENAGER. 🥹 It's hard to pick pictures to post from the 10k+ ones I have of you. From my tiny little 5 # Leo at birth to the beautiful young lady now at 13, you truly amaze me! 🤍 A HERO in my eyes. So many words come to mind that fit you...Brave, Courageous, Strong, Kind, Fierce, Humble, Smart, Compassionate, Determined and Stubborn 🥹 I could go on & on. You have fought battles way bigger than most adults have and you STILL have a beautiful smile and a more beautiful heart! My wishe and prayers for you is for you to have ALL of the LOVE, HEALTH & FAITH!! Aways know that you are SO loved and always keep faith. Know WHO you are and WHO you are from and God can and will lead you to any of your dreams. 🎉🥳🎊🎂🙏🤍

05/07/2026

Happy 4th Everyone! 🎆🇺🇸🎇

15/06/2026

💛🎗💚
Hepatoblastoma...EIGHT years ago today, we heard that word and the words, "Gracie has cancer, and it is Hepatoblastoma." What?!?! My heart SHATTERED and my world literally stopped! We had heard and knew of other kids but never did I ever imagine it would be my daughter; but, honestly, does anyone?!?! 💔

If you visited us at that time, you probably saw a very different little girl and US, me for sure as well. I think I barely functioned day to day with only what was absolutely necessary! We were TERRIFIED! Having to hold your child down for pokies, tests and exams as she screamed and cried will ever be etched in my memory. 🥺

We very quickly found ourselves in a very different family but a family that I have grown to LOVE and RESPECT as much as our true blood family. We met staff, kids, other "cancer families" and you immediately have THAT bond because they have been there and are going through it. We learned that "No One Fights Alone" is SO TRUE. We had friends, communities and SO MANY strangers step up to help us...financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually! We never would have made it through those days without YOU ALL! You carried us on days we just couldn't. In these 8 years, we have celebrated with one's that have rang the bell, shared in heartbreak with relapses and have grieved with WAY TOO MANY families!! Cancer is SO UNFAIR. We have learned that Childhood Cancer is definitely NOT RARE, just look around in Augusta/Staunton/Waynesboro then at our surrounding counties!! Funding is what's rare and is SO NEEDED!! 🎗

We are SO BLESSED & THANKFUL for our UVA & UPMC teams! They are TRULY the BEST! We have doctors that gladly give us their phone numbers and email with the heartfelt truth of "call me ANYTIME!" We have done that too many times to think of. We also share our JOYS with them too! We have had doctors, nurses, techs, and other staff move on but we remember them and they will forever hold a special place in our hearts. 💛

So, here we are...EIGHT years since diagnosis day!! Remember, Gracie was 4 years old when you first heard of her or saw her picture. I THANK God EVERY DAY for Gracie and her health! Some days, it's litterly on my knees in tears of sheer Joy and relief. She's so beautiful, brave, smart, caring, and healthy!!!!!! 💚 She is truly MY HERO! We also THANK YOU ALL for still being here! You pray for us, root us on and share in our JOYS & fears! Truly know that we APPRECIATE you all! Thank you for being here with us and watching her grow! In September, she will have her 5 year post treatment scan and that's a BIGGIE! From there, if she remains NED (no evidence of disease), she will go to Survivorship Clinic. To be honest, it's hard to not write that or say that without tears or that lump in my throat. So, she's at her open mat cheer practice! 💚🙏🎗🎊 💛

08/06/2026

As promised, here are pictures of our new addition! 🐾 Meet Gracie's puppy, Khloe Truly Marie! She joined our family Saturday. 🤍

27/05/2026

Hello everyone! 👋 It's been a while since I have posted an update. So, I do apologize for that.

I'll start by sharing that we lost my Dad, Gracie's Pap-pie in February. 💔 It was sudden and unexpected. That was extremely hard for us. Gracie spends so much time at my parents house. Not having him there is certainly an adjustment.

She has finished 6th grade with AMAZING grades!! 📝 She loved her first year of middle school and all of her teachers! You may remember that she loves to draw & paint. It's been an outlet for her several years. She had to submit a couple pieces of art to be evaluated. At the end of the school year, we found that she was accepted into Gifted & Talented for Art! 🎨 We are incredibly proud of her! 🤍

She has also finished softball for the season. She really enjoyed her Coaches & Teammates this year. They did play so well together! 🥎

Now, starting this week, she's on Summer break. Although the weather has been crazy! She will have a pretty busy summer ahead! She is looking forward to Fashionista Camp & Camp at the Frontier Culture Museum. One of the BIGGEST exciting news for her is she is working on raising & saving her money for something she has wanted for several years but we never felt the time was right...a Golden Retriever puppy! We finally agreed and our home will grow by 4 furry paws in less than 2 weeks! 🤗 She better start counting her money! 😉 So, watch for that post!! 😍

While we are grateful for Gracie's health and watching former "Battle Buddies" graduate and do great things, we still hear of heartbreak. More local families hearing those words that forever change you. I will never understand why or how...or if we are even supposed to. Many times, one verse got me through so much! Trust in the Lord!! 🙏 I do know that these families are not alone though. Just like us with Gracie. We had you all, there's a support system even from ones they don't know. Prayer warriors that pray and hold you up when you just can't. 💛 So, please, keep these new families in your prayers as much as families like us! 🙏

Sorry for such a long post! Thanks for sticking with us!! 💛
# #

04/02/2026

Wednesday, February 4 is World Cancer Day. Most people celebrate February in Red for Heart Disease, but I am asking you to pause one day and wear LAVENDER tomorrow in honor of ALL CANCERS! Cancer has affected my family, my extended family and my friends in more than 1 way...kids and adults! Will you please honor these fighters?? I truly wish I or we never had to know or understand any of this information but here we are. We have met some of the most amazing, loving families along the way. Remember, cancer doesn't discriminate but as one lady said, cancer doesn't define!

If you wish to use any of the graphics, feel free to do so! We need to spread awareness to everyone everywhere! 🎗

02/01/2026

Hello Friends! 👋 I can't believe it's been over 2 months since I have made an update! 🫣 I will say, that is a good thing but I do apologize for not checking in with updates.

Gracie is doing amazing! She did have a flow up with her Transplant team ladt week which was great! 💚 She continues to love middle school and so far, her grades have been GREAT! 📚 Cheer ended and she really doesn't have much interest in winter sports so we just enjoy the free time. I did add several pictures of different things she's done. She has adopted a little stray kitten that came to our house. He's not so little now. First, we were set on finding it a home but after our outdoor kitty disappeared, we got attached. His name is Finnick, Fin for short. He definitely soaks up all of the attention she'll give. 🐈‍⬛ We had a great Christmas and enjoyed going to a local Christmas parade and a sponsored night at Winter Wonderland. 🎄 Gracie LOVES to play with make-up and this evening she did her face like Avatar! She did a PHENOMENAL job!! We spent a good chunk of today at the Factory Antique Mall. Being a true Fashionista, she had to model a coat she found there. 🧥💄

So, that's a quick update. Such a BLESSING to have a semi normal life! That's something we definitely don't take for granted. We hope everyone has a Healthy Happy New Year!! 🤍

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Gracie Strong

12/10/2026

18/09/2026

10/09/2026

08/08/2026

05/07/2026

15/06/2026

08/06/2026

27/05/2026

04/02/2026

02/01/2026

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