Amanda (Mandy) loves Jesus, softball, horses and volleyball. She is part of the student body leadership at her high school and enjoys watching football with her dad. She also really likes to camp and fish.

Mandy went to see her pediatrician on December 27, 2016 after having a lack of energy for a few weeks, shortness of breath and dizziness. Dr. Patterson suspected that Mandy was anemic and tested her blood. The next day her parents received the news that she was anemic and there were abnormalities in her blood that needed to be analyzed further. They picked her up from softball practice that day, took her to Sierra Vista Hospital to have some further tests done and then were directed to proceed immediately to Stanford's Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. She had a bone marrow biopsy and the doctors said she has acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL).

The doctors also said that if someone has to have cancer as a child, this is the one to have. That is how Mandy’s story began, which was the bad news. The good news for her family: God is in control and they will take this process one step at a time. The family know that she is going to receive the best care possible from the professionals at Stanford and feel very confident that she will get what she needs while undergoing chemotherapy. In April 2019, Mandy officially completed treatment! She is rapidly returning to her "old self" and is so happy to no longer be in treatment and instead looking forward to attending college. 

Her parents hope that she will live a long life of continued love and service to others and will be able to return to the active joy-filled lifestyle she lived prior to diagnosis. She has remained positive and steadfast in her faith throughout this journey. She even continues to exercise and go to school when she is feeling tired or yucky.

Her family wants others to know that this journey will be difficult, but temporary, and there will be many blessings you will receive along the way. Wonderful people will come into your life that may never have before.

For Mandy’s family, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation means a hope for a cure and/or complete eradication of all types of childhood cancer

Hero quote: "I'll be back" - Amanda

Updated April 2019

Information provided by Theresa Snowbarger, Amanda’s mom