Ava May’s Journey Through Cancer

03/02/2026

We are forever grateful for the compassionate care Ava May received during her time under hospice. Her nurse, Amy, truly went above and beyond in caring for her — not only meeting her medical needs, but loving and supporting our entire family through the hardest days of our lives. Her kindness and dedication will never be forgotten.

We were deeply touched when Ava May’s elementary school wanted to do something in her memory. Knowing that her life continues to make an impact and that she is remembered with such love means more to us than words can express.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aMNwMyDgy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/28/2026

When Ava May passed away, people assumed the battle was over.

But for our family, it didn’t end. It changed form.

During treatment, life was loud — hospital monitors, appointments, medications, prayer chains, fundraisers. There was always something to fight.

Then suddenly… silence.

No more scans.
No more treatment plans.
Just a house that feels too still.

That’s when the trauma surfaces — when the adrenaline fades and reality settles in.

Cancer didn’t just affect Ava May’s body. It touched our finances, our marriage, our other child’s sense of safety, our faith, and our identity. Even after she was gone, the bills kept coming. The grief kept coming. The world slowly moved on.

But we didn’t.

We are still her parents.
We still carry her name.
We still carry her love.

There is no “moving on.” There is only carrying forward.

Families like ours are not weak. We are not dramatic. We are living with a loss that rewires everything.

And yet — somehow — we wake up each day and keep going.

That isn’t recovery.

That’s strength born from loving a child whose story didn’t end when her heartbeat did. 💛

02/27/2026

One year ago today, Ava May relapsed again.

I can still picture the four of us sitting in that clinic room, completely devastated. It felt like the air had been knocked out of us. The weight of those words was heavier than anything we had carried before.

But I also remember something else.

I remember the staff who stood beside us — who didn’t rush us, who didn’t offer empty words, who simply stayed. They consoled us. They prayed over us. They cried with us.

In one of our hardest moments, they chose compassion.

I hope they all truly know the impact they have had on our lives. Their kindness, their presence, and their hearts will never be forgotten.

Some dates never leave you. But neither do the people who walk through them with you. 🤍

02/26/2026

We are thankful for our friends that continue to advocate for funding for cancer research.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AxD7Q3ZiY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Training day done ✅
Tomorrow we head to Capital Hill to meet with Sen. Jim Justice’s office, Rep. Riley Moore, and Sen. Shelley Capito!

To say thank you!

02/19/2026

We are so excited to officially share a raffle/fundraiser opportunity for the Ava May Scholarship.

This scholarship is being created to honor Ava May’s life, her light, and the impact she continues to have on our family and our community. Our hope is that through this scholarship, her story will continue to inspire, encourage, and support students for many, many years to come.

We are currently in the process of establishing the Ava May Scholarship as a registered nonprofit so that we can grow this mission and ensure her memory lives on in a lasting and meaningful way within our community. This is just the beginning of something that will continue to give back in her honor.

We are raffling a $500 cash prize, and every chance purchased helps us build this foundation and invest in future students.

🎟 Chances are $10 each or 3 for $25
📅 Winner will be drawn on Saturday, March 14th at 7pm using the Wheel of Names
🌎 Winner does not have to live locally to win

Payment options:
Cash App: $WVCountryRoads
Venmo: -Lillard
Apple Pay: 304-839-3727
PayPal: countryroadscreationwv1@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who has supported our family, loved Ava May, and continues to help us keep her memory alive. Your support means more than words can ever express. 🤍

Please feel free to share.

02/15/2026

Ava May did not receive her healing on this side of Heaven — and that is a reality we carry every single day. But her story does not end here.

In her honor, we will continue to fight. We will continue to raise awareness. We will continue to push for research, for funding, and for a cure. Because no child should ever have to endure the battle she faced. No family should have to hear the words “your child has cancer.”

Her life fuels our purpose. Her light still leads us forward. And we will not stop until change comes. 💛

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JuMp27uVo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Credit: Gold Fighters United

02/04/2026

Several people have asked if Ava May was able to fulfill her bucket list—and she did. 🤍
The very last thing she told us she wanted to make it through was her sister’s birthday.
Peanut’s birthday was Saturday, January 24th.
Ava May passed Sunday night into Monday morning.

She held on just long enough to celebrate her sister—and that will forever be one of the most beautiful gifts she gave us.

01/27/2026

Ava May requested that black not be worn to her services; instead, she asked that those attending wear colorful clothing as a reflection of her joyful spirit and love of life.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, January 30, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, King Street, Martinsburg.

A Celebration of Life service with a meal to follow will be held on Saturday, January 31, at 3:00 p.m. at Moler Avenue Church of the Brethren, with Pastor Sarah Beth Lillard officiating.

For those unable to attend in person, the service will be streamed live on Facebook via Moler Ave Church.

https://www.brownfuneralhomeswv.com/memorials/ava-bass-lillard/5681172/

01/26/2026

With the heaviest of hearts, we share that our sweet Ava May passed peacefully in her sleep.

Our hearts are shattered, and the pain of missing her already feels unbearable. There are no words that fully capture the depth of this loss. She fought so bravely, loved so deeply, and touched more lives than she will ever know.

While we are completely broken here on earth, we hold tightly to the hope and promise that this is not goodbye forever. We know we will be reunited again someday, where there is no more pain, no more sickness—only peace and wholeness.

Thank you for the prayers, love, and support that have carried our family through this unimaginable journey. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we learn how to breathe, grieve, and move forward without our precious girl here beside us.

We love you forever, Ava May. 💛

01/26/2026

1/25 Update on Ava May

Ava May took a hard turn for the worse during the night and has remained the same throughout today. We are planning to transfer her to the hospice facility tomorrow, unless she worsens more or passes overnight.

She is experiencing terminal restlessness, and the hospice team has instructed us to use medication from the emergency kit to help settle her.

She promised Peanut she would be here for her birthday—and she kept that promise.

Please say some extra prayers for our family. Nothing could have ever prepared us for this.

01/25/2026

1/24 Update on Ava May

Hospice came this morning to assess whether we should transfer to inpatient (which is where Ava May wants to pass). While she is showing signs of change, she is still responding, and her vitals are still okay.

She has slept around 22 of the last 24 hours.

Ava May is experiencing a great deal of hallucinations now. While some of them can bring us a little laughter, it is also incredibly hard watching your child decline so much.

We will be forever grateful that we were able to celebrate Peanut’s birthday together.