Rachel was a typical 16 year old when she complained about a spot on the back of her thigh that didn’t feel right. After ruling out several other possibilities, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, known as soft tissue sarcoma, and a tumor the size of a baseball was removed from her leg. She recovered from the surgery, had 6 weeks of radiation, and returned to being a normal teenager. Sadly, the cancer returned to her lungs in the fall of 2008, and she lost her battle on January 18th, 2009. She was an amazing young lady who never complained about her struggles.
She loved singing and was part of several musicals and performing groups in high school. She has inspired a huge number of people who either knew her or have heard her story. While her time with us was short, she lived life to the fullest and has left a lasting legacy. Rachel is the sister-in-law of the author, Shelby. The scene created is based off of a memorial bench in Rachel’s hometown. Rachel’s butterfly is purple, her favorite color.
Perfect Through and Through 