#RallyKid Rainey's Fundraiser
Join us in supporting the Rally Foundation, where every donation fuels groundbreaking research and vital support programs for children battling cancer and their families. Your generosity is a lifeline, bringing us closer to a world where childhood cancer is no longer a threat.
Rainey's Story
Rainey Shea was born a fighter. She needed resuscitation at birth due to the umbilical cord choking her. After a NICU stay and subsequent CHOA visits, she was diagnosed with Hypotonia (low muscle tone) from lack of oxygen at birth. As she missed milestones like sitting up and crawling, she began intensive therapy, including body braces and SMOs for walking. Her annual MRIs showed abnormal brain scans, though nothing progressive. At 18 months, she was officially diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. By three years old, Rainey graduated from PT and had no residual effects from her condition aside from occasional fatigue.
Just before her fifth birthday, Rainey was diagnosed with cancer. She had a tummy ache and bloating, and a photo from her teacher showed a concerning protrusion on her side. My boss allowed me to leave work to take her to urgent care. The local hospital’s ER didn’t have imaging, so we went to CHOA. Despite initial reluctance, the ER doctor did an ultrasound and confirmed a tumor, almost 4 inches in size, on her kidney. He apologized for dismissing us and thanked me for insisting on further examination. The tumor had metastasized to her lungs.
Rainey’s kidney and the tumor were removed a week later. The tumor had grown rapidly, displacing her thoracic organs. After surgery, she began weekly chemotherapy, facing nausea, itchy skin, and severe sunlight sensitivity.
With little reduction in lung tumors, she started radiation and aggressive daily chemo. Rainey struggled with vomiting, severe exhaustion, and needed a wheelchair. Her latest scans show significant tumor reduction, and she’ll continue treatment for another four months, receiving scheduled blood transfusions for low hemoglobin.
Despite it all, Rainey faces each challenge with a smile and is known in the clinic as the "sticker girl" for spreading joy to others.
By buying a shirt, you are directly supporting childhood cancer research through the Rally Foundation.
Your purchase will contribute to the ongoing efforts to develop better treatments with fewer long-term side effects, and ultimately, find cures for young patients like Rainey. Stand with us in this critical cause and help bring hope to children and families battling cancer.