16-year-old cancer patient enjoys trip of a lifetime
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – News 8 got a look inside a special trip for a family struggling with cancer and the 16-year-old beating the odds.
The trip was provided by the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, with money raised from The Caroline Symmes Celebrity Softball Challenge just a few weeks ago. The entire family got to go to Paris and for Lauren McGlaughlin, it was a dream come true and she says its something she’ll never forget.
Lauren is 16 years old and for the past four years she’s been dealing with a number of diseases, including cancer. In December 2016, doctors found a football-sized tumor on her spine and gave her a 15 percent chance of making it. She beat the odds and survived.
The Indiana Children’s Wish Fund heard about her story and wanted to send Lauren and her family on a trip of a lifetime to Paris,France. They got to go The Louvre, The Cathedral of Notre Dame and see the Eiffel Tower but Lauren’s absolute favorite was the Palace of Versailles.
“I just want to thank everyone that gave their platform and time and money to this amazing foundation,” said Lauren. “To help so many kids go on their one last bucket list chance they have maybe or maybe just one amazing thing that can help them through such a rough time in their lives.”
Lauren’s mom Allyson says it’s been a long journey.
“The people that donate to this really don’t understand how special this is for families and patients that they are sending on these trips,” said Allyson. “You know it’s a once in a lifetime memorable experience for us to have fun and push all this medical aside and just have a wonderful time together making memories.”
Lauren has recently been diagnosed again with cancer. It’s now moved into her lungs. She did go through some surgery last week and is recovering now. Her message to everyone is to stay positive and help other people because you may not know what they are going through and offer a hug, at the very least.
That softball challenge raised over $50,000 raised with money still coming in from sponsors. Just over 6,000 people showed up.