Meet one of our newest Team Summer kids, 5-year-old Blakely!
About a year ago, Blakely’s parents began to notice that their normally bubbly, energetic girl just didn’t seem like herself. She was more tired than usual, not eating well, and complained of an itchy chest. When her mom noticed her chest starting to swell, she took her to the pediatrician. At first, nothing seemed overly concerning. A viral panel was run and came back negative, and the swelling was thought to be a harmless fatty lump called a lipoma.
But her mom couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. She pushed for blood work, which came back mostly normal, and then insisted on an ultrasound. They were able to get in that same week due to a cancellation — something that would prove critical.
Just moments into the ultrasound, the technician stepped out of the room. Shortly after, her mom received a call from the pediatrician saying it was not a lipoma and that they needed to go straight to the hospital. There, they discovered Blakely’s left lung had collapsed and was filled with fluid, and a large mass in her chest was pressing on her heart and shifting her airway. After further testing, her parents were given news no parent is ever prepared to hear — Blakely had cancer. It was lymphoma.
Blakely began urgent treatment to shrink the tumor and relieve the pressure on her lung, heart, and airway. From there, she began a long and difficult journey through chemotherapy.
In the weeks and months that followed, so much of Blakely’s normal life was put on hold. The treatments were tough, and she began to lose her hair. Time with her siblings became more limited, and the simple things she loved most — playing, exploring, and just being a kid — looked very different.
That’s when Team Summer kid Sunny came into Blakely’s life! Their moms had connected on social media and instantly hit it off. The girls were the same age, and despite living states apart — Sunny in Maryland, Blakely in New Jersey — it felt like they were meant to meet!
They had plans to see each other in person at a football game where both girls were going to be recognized. It was an especially meaningful moment for Blakely’s family, as her dad is a former NFL Ravens player. But just before the game, Sunny got sick and was unable to attend.
But that didn’t stop Sunny from wanting to find a way to meet Blakely. She understood what Blakely was going through and set out to do something exciting for her. As a Team Summer kid, Sunny could nominate Blakely to become a Team Summer kid, too. Not long after, the girls finally met over a Team Summer Zoom, seeing each other face-to-face for the first time!
After Sunny welcomed Blakely to Team Summer with a special letter that her mom helped her read, it was time for the big reveal. Sunny told Blakely to head down to her basement. When Blakely saw what was waiting for her there, her face lit up instantly. The entire room had been transformed into her very own gymnastics space — complete with a bar and rings, a balance beam, mats, and a tumble block. She didn’t hesitate for a second — she took off in a full sprint!
From there, she was flipping, swinging, and balancing her way through it all — having an absolute blast! Just look at that smile on her face!
Sunny, great job bringing so much brightness into Blakely’s world!
To everyone who makes gifts like this possible — thank you. Team Summer is going strong because of your generosity and unwavering support. With your help, we can continue creating moments like this for kids who need it most.
*Team Summer, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
