In May 2007, Lily was diagnosed with a regular ependymoma brain tumor at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She was 14 months old. In the weeks leading up to her diagnosis, Lily was throwing up sporadically, began to lose her balance and stopped crawling.

At CHOP, Lily had a full tumor resection. Because of this complete removal, her tumor type and other factors, we were sent to MD Anderson in Houston, TX for 6 weeks of proton radiation therapy. Lily has had clean MRIs since August 2007. Today, Lily is 18 years old and will be a Freshman at Dominican University of New York in the Fall. She is majoring in special education and will row on their Division II rowing team. 

The brain tumor left Lily unable to walk, but today Lily walks, runs, dances, rows. For 16 years, Lily received weekly physical and occupational therapy. In high school, Lily discovered rowing and worked hard to earn a spot in a boat. At the end of her freshman year, her shunt failed, sidelining her from rowing, and eventually leading to her losing her spot on the team. But Lily didn't give up. She kept showing up to practice and eventually joined a different rowing club and made a comeback worthy of a movie. From sitting on the dock to competing at the highest level, Lily's strength and grit took her all the way to US Rowing Youth Nationals, twice. This year, Lily left with a silver medal in her racing category, ranked second in the Nation! Lily has big plans to take her rowing career as far as she can and looks forward to collegiate racing (and someday, racing around the world!). After college, her plan is to become a special education teacher inspired by the supportive teachers she had, as well as by the struggles she faced at school. She also plans on coaching Youth pararowing and advocating for other disabled athletes who carry big dreams of competing, just like Lily did. 

Lily is a long-time lemonade stand host and holds the World Record for the largest cup of Alex's Lemonade! Together with her siblings, Chloe and Nicholas, she hosts lemonade stands in her front yard or a nearby park each year. Her entire family also participates in The Million Mile in September. Lily has no plans on stopping her lemonade stand-ing--and has every intention of bringing Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation everywhere she goes.She hopes to quit the lemonade stand business someday; but only after there are cures and safer treatments for all children. 

Watching Lily grow and continue to heal is an inspiration. She has taught us that when you fall, you always stand back up; to always love with our whole heart; and that miracles do happen. Lily is living proof.

Written by Trish Adkins. 
Updated June 2024