It has been a huge relief for the family of Paige Atherton to get this message after her surgery.
Paige’s aunt, Alicia Stewart, let myFM know back on February 23rd that the Paige’s Amber Army initiative had raised over $130,000 for Paige to get a procedure for her rare form of appendix cancer done by specialists in Pittsburgh.
Stewart now says that her niece is very tired but resting after the long procedure that same day.
The operation also included a chemotherapy flush through Paige’s system and while she is tired, she is in good spirits as her recovery begins.
She’s since been able to move up from eating ice cubes to popsicles, something Stewart said Paige was very excited for, and will be building up to walking as the surgical tubes are slowly removed and her energy returns in the coming days.
Stewart says none of this would have been possible without community support for Paige’s Amber Army.
Paige will stay at the hospital in Pittsburgh for at least two more weeks, and her family says they cannot thank the community enough for giving her a second chance at life.
In the meantime, donations to help the Atherton’s with day-to-day expenses as Paige recovers and get well cards are still being accepted through the Paige’s Amber Army facebook page.
(written by Kasey Egan)