Allison Daye Hoy (Alli) was diagnosed with Burkitt Leukemia on January 25th of 2017, at the age of 16. She fought this disease with beauty, wit, humor, and grace, inspiring and rallying an entire community around her. After enduring many invasive hospital stays and clinic visits to treat her cancer, Alli had a celebration of life party in August of 2017, when her chemotherapy had ended. She got her driver's license, traveled, and enjoyed life. Yet it was only weeks later when her cancer aggressively returned.
Relapse requires aggressive treatment. She was being prepared for the CAR-T cell therapy program at Children's Hospital of Philadephia, and was undergoing many different rigorous treatments in hopes of getting her ready for this form of immunotherapy that could save her life.
During this time, she also traveled to Disney World, attended the wedding of two friends, had a party for her 17th birthday, did a portrait session in a beautiful dress after losing her hair, and made sushi with the chef at her favorite local restaurant. She lived life to the fullest, spent plenty of time with friends and family, smiled, made faces, and showed tremendous courage to a community surrounding her with love, prayers, and support.
Unfortunately, her particular cancer was more aggressive than currently available treatment forms can stop. Alli lost her battle to cancer exactly one year to the day after her initial diagnosis, and a little less than 2 months after she turned 17.
A state champion varsity swimmer and cheerleader, Alli possessed an adventurous spirit, sharp wit, ready smile, welcoming heart, and enduring tenacity, inspiring the motto “All Daye Strong.” She was a lover of water, trips to the beach, mountains, and farm, music, sushi, and spending time with friends. Alli felt honored throughout her illness by the love and support from the Spartanburg Day School and District 6 communities, as well as beloved nurses and staff at Greenville Hospital System’s Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Center.
Your support of St. Baldrick's Foundation can help researchers develop better cures for childhood cancers, so that other families and children don't have to endure the tragedies of battling such a horrific disease. Thank you for supporting St. Baldrick's, and all families going through journeys like Alli's.
