03/12/2026
Some of the most profound relationships are forged not in easy moments, but in the hardest ones, and at 16, Lilly knows this better than most.
Last fall, she was diagnosed with a large brain tumor and has since undergone two brain surgeries and multiple procedures. Through every appointment and every uncertain moment, she has not faced it alone. Her care team at Children’s Nebraska, including her neurosurgeon, Dr. Grace Lai, has walked every difficult step alongside her.
It was Dr. Lai who invited Lilly to attend the Team Jack Foundation Gala, an annual event that brings together families, advocates and supporters to raise critical funds and awareness for childhood brain cancer research. What began as a simple invitation quickly became something much more meaningful. For Lilly, the evening offered a chance to step outside the routines of treatment and be part of a community united in the fight against pediatric brain cancer.
Surrounded by families who understand that journey, Lilly described the evening as one of the most emotional and meaningful nights of her life. It was a reminder that the relationships built inside hospital walls extend far beyond them, and that even in the hardest seasons, there is hope.
That hope is something Lilly now carries forward. She is becoming a voice for kids facing the same fight, sharing her story and showing up for others.
At Children’s Nebraska, this is what care looks like. Expert teams walk alongside patients through treatment and through life’s meaningful moments - building relationships that last, celebrating resilience and advocating alongside families for a future free from childhood cancer.
