Moving into club soccer just a few years later, she saw the sport as a future hobby for her life and planned to attend Stanford supporting their school team. Sarah, Molly’s mom, laughs “Molly is our planner!”  

And then plans changed.  

It turns out, Molly’s shin splint pain was something more serious, cancer. And it was a diagnosis with frightening consequences.  

Treatments included chemotherapy, limb salvage surgery to remove the cancer from her leg, and more than 160 days spent in hospital. The treatment was so physically aggressive, Molly is unable to play the sport she loves.  

Yet, when Molly was told she would receive a wish due to her diagnosis, she “took her shot” and wished to meet the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT).  

“I struggled with my mental health throughout my cancer journey and knowing this wish was going to happen kept me going some days. I would sit in the hospital with my USWNT jersey and watch them play on the television, knowing we were going to meet in person,” said Molly.  

 “The wish gave us something to focus on as Molly considered her life after diagnosis and treatment. It gave us something to look forward to,” said Sarah. 

Molly’s wish was also the family’s first trip since her diagnosis.  

“Our family was forced to be divided for a long time because of my treatment. This was the first time, in a long time, we did something special together. We were a normal family on vacation and that was a great feeling,” said Molly. 

Arriving at the stadium, Molly and her family were greeted by the entire team. The players, coaches, team physicians and support staff were waiting and ready to welcome them.  

Molly and the team talked soccer and life, taking pictures to remember the day.  

She led a team meeting with the players, toured the locker room, and watched the team play an international friendly game against Columbia. After the match, some players spotted Molly in the stands and stopped by for one last chat. One player called Molly their good luck charm with the final score 3-0.  

Molly said the whole experience left her speechless.  

"And some of them were saying how they looked up to me for how brave and strong I am! I was almost crying, that was really special," said Molly. “I hope I get to do some great things in life, but probably nothing as good as this wish ever. It's one of the good things to come out of this whole cancer situation. And I can look back on it and have this be a happy memory even with the hard times." 

“You could tell the team genuinely cared and they all knew of her condition before we arrived. This was beyond anything she could have wished for. Until it’s a part of your life you don’t realize what a gift it is,” said Sarah.  

Molly will start high school with honors and a renewed outlook on the future. The planner still has her sights set on Stanford, but with a new goal—oncology.  

“I am determined to make it so other kids don’t have to go through what I went through,” said Molly. We believe this is another shot she will not miss!