Family Focus: Community Supports Teen Diagnosed With Rare Cancer

On Friday, students at one Charlotte middle school were decked out in orange to show support for a fellow student who is battling an extremely rare cancer.

Students drew orange symbols on their arms and painted the rock outside Alexander Graham Middle School.

Last month, eighth-grader Sloan Chambers had to leave school to start fighting a cancer so rare that her doctors said she's the only child ever diagnosed with it.

“I didn't know I had that many people looking after me,” Sloan said.

People across Charlotte are reaching out to her after her life-changing diagnosis.

In February, Sloan felt pain in her legs while running a 5K. She finished the race, but the pain remained.

“I was like, ‘I'm still hurting. I'm still hurting,’ so we went to the pediatrician,” Sloan said.

After seeing more doctors and getting blood work, Sloan was diagnosed with mast cell leukemia, which can affect blood and bone marrow.

Doctors told her she is the first known case in children.

After one round of chemotherapy, Sloan is now happy to be home and said she is ready to fight cancer.

“You can't sit there and sulk in yourself. That's going to make you feel even worse,” she said. “So you just got to kind of tough it out and beat it."

Sloan's parents said they're thankful for her positive attitude and in awe of the attitude of the whole community.

Sloan’s bedroom is filled with blankets, paintings and stuffed animals. She said she can't help but feel loved.

“It's amazing,” Sloan said. “I can't thank anyone enough.”

Sloan is set to undergo another round of chemotherapy on April 1. Then she will plan for a bone marrow transplant. Her church, Myers Park Presbyterian, is setting up a bone marrow drive in the near future.

To read more about Sloan’s journey, click here.