Houston mom creates nonprofit to support families after daughter's cancer fight

Fox - 26 Houston
11 followers
Oct 25, 2026
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Well, you know, I'm sure.
Childhood cancer, that diagnosis will just upend an entire family here.
So for one Houston mom, one of the hardest parts wasn't
the hospital stays. It was the isolation
that went with them. So McKenna Earnhardt here,
live in the studio, you have the cutest little
patootie here, and she actually led
to a big change that's going to help others.
Yes. So when a child gets a diagnosis with leukemia
or any type of cancer, life suddenly,
you know, can shrink down to clinic rooms,
hospital mask, round the clock, infection
precautions. And the mother here, Jennifer Clark,
experienced that firsthand when her daughter Abby
was diagnosed at just two years old.
And that's when she decided to make something positive out
of it. And she started Abby's Brave Buddies
to help other families in similar situations find
a community. You are fighting cancer.
Abby was diagnosed with leukemia at two, completely
unexpected, which is something I find often
in this pediatric cancer journey,
is that a lot of us started with something small.
You're so strong, do you know that?
We went and had blood testing and really
quickly found out that she had leukemia within two hours
of leaving our blood appointment.
So from there, you get thrown into a world
that you never thought you'd be part of.
And for the last two and a half years, we've been fighting this cancer.
It was my daughter's third birthday where I asked
her what she wanted to do for her birthday,
and she wanted to hang out with the nurses.
And I'm like, wow, we need some more friendships.
And so I felt like there was that gap,
especially for the little kids who really need friendships.
So as we started getting together,
we felt like our kids started learning how to socialize again,
but so did us as parents.
I mean, we don't know how to talk to each other.
We're like feral cats put in a little cave.
And so finally we're getting out and we're talking
and we're going through the different types of traumas together.
Abby, do you know that I heard you almost get to ring the bell soon?
Is that true?
Yeah.
Because my last port just fell off.
What does it mean when your port falls off?
That means that you don't have to do no more butterflies.
What is butterflies?
Those are little pokes that go in your body.
Ouchie, does that hurt?
Yeah, but they'll take them out soon.
And are you so excited they're taking them out?
Yeah, I almost get to ring the bell.
and now she almost gets to ring the bell what
a sweet kiddo there jennifer says abby's brave
buddies is open to any family touched
by childhood cancer including siblings so if
you want to get involved or just donate
or help out head over to our website for more details
