Jackson County Girl Struggles To Live With Bone Cancer
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Updated: 9:39 AM Oct 29, 2009
Jackson County Girl Struggles To Live With Bone Cancer
A 14-year-old Jackson County girl is fighting to stay alive. Amber Snell was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer known as "Osteosarcoma" back in August. The cost of her treatment and chemotherapy is at $200,000 dollars and rising.
Posted: 9:39 AM Oct 29, 2009
Reporter: Vanessa Nguyen
Email Address: vanessa.nguyen@wjhg.com
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A 14-year-old Jackson County girl is fighting to stay alive.
Amber Snell was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer known as "Osteosarcoma" back in August.
The cost of her treatment and chemotherapy is at $200,000 dollars and rising.
The Snells are getting some help from the community, but the bills continue to mount.

At first glance Amber Snell looks like the typical 14-year-old.
Her favorite hobbies are mud-riding, Nascar and of course....
"Shopping, shopping, that should be a sport. For real, you line people up with high heels and see who can buy the most. It would be the best sport in the whole world."
But Amber hasn't had much time to enjoy her hobbies since August 17, 2009, the day she was diagnosed with "Osteosarcoma."
"It's bone cancer."
The news came as Amber was starting her freshman year of high school and her mom was transitioning into a new job.
Now they spend all of their time driving to Shands' Hospital in Gainesville for chemo-treatments.
"Since the third week of August, we've been back-to-forth to Shands."
Amber's mom, Lisa, is too emotional to talk on camera, but says she now owes more than $200,000 dollars in bills related to her daughter's treatment.
"It's such a financial burden on them having to drive to Gainesville and back, once you get down there you have to stay in motels, gas and the parents not being able to work during those times but they still have bills."
Members of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office are partnering with local churches to help raise money for Amber's medical needs.
They're hosting a barbecue benefit.
"We all have children and they're living a nightmare that most of us don't want to have to happen but things like this happen."
There is a silver lining.
Amber says this crisis has brought her and her mother closer together, giving her a different perspective on life.
"It could always be worse. Things happen in life and when they happen, you take what they give you and make the best out of it."

Amber is back in Gainesville next week for more chemo, then surgery on November 17th.
Tickets for the barbecue benefit are still available at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
And there's a benefit account in Amber's name at the Regions Bank in Marianna.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 28, 2009 at 06:43 PM

Come on lets raise plenty of dollars. I know this girl's dad. He is a real downhome person. It's got to be hard. Look to the hills which all of our help comes from. Your family is in our prayers.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: anon Location: wewa on Oct 28, 2009 at 06:35 PM

When and where is the B-B-Q? I would like to go.
[ Report Abuse ]
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