Lizzy Wampler grew up in Missouri. She loved to spend time with her older siblings and enjoyed taking part in gymnastics and ballet
Though she dreamed of being an ice-skating princess, her life took a sharp turn after she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 9
Despite her fate, Lizzy is still remembered today by family and friends for her love and laughter
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Joy Wampler died in March 2018 at the age of 10, leaving behind a legacy of courage and love that touched everyone who knew her.
Diagnosed with pediatric bone cancer called osteosarcoma just one year prior, Lizzy faced her illness with remarkable strength.
In a deeply emotional video recently shared by her mother, Jennifer Wampler, Lizzy is seen saying goodbye to her grandfather via FaceTime – a virtual farewell made necessary due to travel restrictions after he had undergone open-heart surgery.
In her final days, Lizzy’s family did everything possible to ensure those closest to her had a chance to say goodbye.
“When Lizzy was first diagnosed…she didn’t fully understand what ‘cancer’ meant – she didn’t have a reference point for it,” Jennifer, 52, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “She heard the word, but her focus was more on the pain in her leg and the fact that she just wanted to feel better.”
As a fourth grader, Lizzy initially experienced what seemed like normal growing pains, but soon she began to limp.
Her pediatrician took the symptoms seriously and ordered an X-ray, followed by an MRI and a biopsy. The tests revealed devastating news: Lizzy had cancer. Nothing could have prepared her family for that diagnosis.
“They initially recommended amputating her leg right away, but we chose to transfer her care to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” Jennifer explains. “They removed five inches of her right femur and replaced it with a titanium rod.”
At the time of diagnosis, the cancer was localized and hadn’t spread, giving Lizzy a 70% survival rate. For eight months, she underwent intense treatment, including multiple surgeries, aggressive chemotherapy, and a major limb-sparing procedure.
“It took everything out of her, yet she never stopped smiling, never stopped loving others,” Jennifer recalls. “But the day before her ‘No More Chemo’ party, we got the call that changed everything.”
Scans showed the cancer had returned and spread to Lizzy’s left pelvis. Doctors discussed a possible hip-level amputation, but her right leg showed signs of relapse, leaving Lizzy’s survival rate at just 20%.
“The cancer was relentless. Lizzy was in so much pain. She had to learn to walk again after every surgery. The nerve pain was unbearable at times,” Jennifer says. “Her small body was traumatized from the sheer volume of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries. And yet, she still chose to love. Still chose joy.”
Lizzy fought bravely for 15 months. In her mind, the goal was simple: to walk again, get back to school, spend time with her brother and sister, and finally be a kid. However, one day, Lizzy’s oncologist told the family there was nothing more they could do.
She was in constant, severe pain, relying on heavy medications like fentanyl and morphine. Her body was exhausted, and the care team focused on making her remaining days as peaceful as possible.
“In the beginning, we didn’t tell her she might die. We were clinging to hope. But as time went on, and especially after her recurrence, it became harder to protect her from the truth,” Jennifer admits.
“We were seeing other families lose their children, and Lizzy saw that too. The reality of what could happen became clearer, even without us saying it outright,” she adds. “She was incredibly intuitive. She knew.”
With two weeks to live, Lizzy’s family was determined to make her feel as comfortable as possible while saying her many goodbyes.