Support Addie's Recovery Journey

Hi friends, family, and loved ones of Molly and John,

The first week of February has brought unexpected devastation to the Sawyer family. After a fall at school that brought worry of concussion, their daughter Addie was taken for a CT scan. This revealed a primary 4cm tumor between her brain stem and cerebellum, as well as smaller secondary tumors. Following her diagnosis on 2/4/25, she has been in hospital and will stay for days to come. Though her brain is still recovering from the concussion, the primary tumor is obstructing the flow of spinal fluid; thus, she will undergo surgery on 2/10/25.

As her brain recovers, Addie will begin intensive inpatient therapy to re-learn how to walk, feed herself, and regain speech. The demand for her rehabilitation will remove Molly and John from their employment, all while incurring costs such as hospital stays, medication, specialists, medical equipment, and childcare. These are only the known costs of the immediate future. Addie will require continued MRIs and oncology care, as the secondary tumors will not be removed during surgery but will be monitored for years to come. The challenges this diagnosis will bring are only partially known, but we do know that nearly every part of Addie’s recovery will come with a price tag. The financial burden of medical care is a worry that if you can lighten, we ask that you do.

At just two years old, Addie is the youngest of the Sawyer family; she loves to play hide and seek with her big sister Belle, independently put herself to sleep, act intentionally (read slowly), and use her favorite word, “No!”. Coincidentally, that is precisely what we are saying to cancer: NO! Her mom describes her as “loving and fierce, brave and calculated.” Her bravery will be a pillar of her recovery, as the journey ahead is an uphill battle.

If you’re here, you have likely sent prayers, meals, cards, balloons, kind words, funds, and love to the Sawyer family. We ask that you do not stop, especially with the prayers. The outpouring of support is a testament to how many people Molly and John have touched and are connected to. Beyond that, they have felt the support of people they might not know. Addie's family foundation—the Sawyer, Schiro, and Goldberg families—comprises incredible people, each with their circle of support. When you follow the flow of people supporting Addie, it’s hard to see where it stops. We hope it never does, as it is only the beginning of the rollercoaster of recovery, and Molly, John, Belley, and Addie need your support through it all.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Gaby Oyer, a proud member of the Addie Sawyer Cheer squad