Holly Hamrick was on her way to work — carpooling with her mom — when it happened.
It was July 2, 2019.
Hamrick, 23, took several trips to the hospital prior to her seizure, but her symptoms were brushed aside due to her age.
After the seizure, doctors took Hamrick seriously, initially thinking it was caused by a low-grade glioma — a type of tumor that starts in the glial cells of the brain or the spine.
But the doctors soon realized it was a more serious cancer: Stage 3 astrocytoma. Stage 3 and 4 are malignant and grow faster than other states.
The tumor was removed and medical treatments started.
Hamrick is single and has a car payment and other living expenses. She hasn’t been able to work and her fiancé’s mom, Lori Taylor, wonders what someone like that is supposed to do when a medical condition prevents you from making money to cover those expenses. She said all the funds Holly has now go toward medical expenses first. That leaves little to nothing left for other necessities.
Taylor wanted to help and created a nonprofit for the young woman, and eventually others in similar situations.
The Holly Hamrick Foundation is a registered nonprofit and Taylor said the intentions for the foundation are to “pay it forward.”
After three months and over 4,000 phone calls, Taylor said, there were countless cancer organizations that could not benefit Hamrick’s case, thus the inspiration of their nonprofit.
Hamrick and fiancé, Seth, have been together for six years. He said there have been other battles she’s dealt with in her life, but this has been her toughest fight.
“She’s a wimp … but when it comes to this, she’s tough as hell,” Seth said.
Earlier this year, Hamrick started having severe headaches and blurred vision. Tests determined there was fluid in the brain and where the first tumor was removed, another was growing. So, she had another brain surgery and doctors determined that it was mostly necrosis, a form of cell injury that causes cells to die prematurely. It can be fatal.
Comedy show fundraiser
In mid-March, Slap Stick Comedy Show will be at the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department to raise money for the Holly Hamrick Foundation.
The comedy show will be on March 14 and tickets are $20. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at slapsticksproductions.com and for presale only.
Outback Steakhouse will cater the show with a pasta Alfredo dinner.
Lori Taylor said donations can also be mailed to the Holly Hamrick Foundation at 1058 Cheat Road, Morgantown, WV 26508.
The Holly Hamrick Foundation will also have a website soon for donations and more information.
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