Lizzy Wampler grew up in Missouri, a bright and spirited girl who loved spending time with her older siblings. Passionate about gymnastics and ballet, she dreamed of one day becoming an ice-skating princess.
But at just nine years old, Lizzy’s life took an unexpected and heartbreaking turn when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive pediatric bone cancer.
Despite the challenges ahead, Lizzy faced her illness with incredible bravery and a radiant spirit that never faded. Her laughter and love continue to inspire everyone who knew her.
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Joy Wampler passed away in March 2018 at the tender age of ten, leaving behind a legacy of courage and hope.
In a deeply moving video shared by her mother, Jennifer Wampler, Lizzy’s emotional goodbye to her grandfather unfolds via FaceTime—a farewell forced by distance and circumstances after he underwent open-heart surgery. This virtual moment of love and farewell captures the strength of a family united even through hardship.
In Lizzy’s final days, her family went to great lengths to ensure everyone who mattered could share a heartfelt goodbye.
“When Lizzy was first diagnosed, she didn’t fully understand what ‘cancer’ meant,” her mother Jennifer, 52, told PEOPLE exclusively. “She’d heard the word but had no real reference for it. Her focus was simply on the pain in her leg and the hope to just feel better.”
At first, as a fourth grader, Lizzy’s symptoms seemed like normal growing pains. But soon, she began to limp — a warning sign her pediatrician took seriously. An X-ray, followed by an MRI and biopsy, revealed the devastating truth: Lizzy had cancer. Nothing could have prepared her family for the heartbreaking diagnosis.
“They initially recommended amputating her leg immediately,” Jennifer explained, “but we decided to transfer her care to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. There, they removed five inches of her right femur and replaced it with a titanium rod.”
At diagnosis, the cancer was localized and hadn’t spread, offering a hopeful 70% survival rate. Over the next eight months, Lizzy endured grueling treatments — multiple surgeries, aggressive chemotherapy, and a major limb-sparing operation.
“It took everything out of her, yet she never stopped smiling or loving those around her,” Jennifer recalls. “Then, the day before her ‘No More Chemo’ party, we received the call that changed everything.”
Scans revealed the cancer had returned, spreading to Lizzy’s left pelvis. Doctors discussed the possibility of a hip-level amputation, but her right leg showed signs of relapse as well — dropping her survival chances to a heartbreaking 20%.
“The cancer was relentless,” Jennifer recalls. “Lizzy endured excruciating pain. After every surgery, she had to relearn how to walk. The nerve pain was unbearable at times.”
Her small body bore the trauma of countless rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries. Yet, through it all, Lizzy chose love. She chose joy.
For 15 months, Lizzy fought with fierce courage. Her goal was simple: to walk again, return to school, spend time with her brother and sister, and just be a kid.
But one day, her oncologist delivered the devastating news — there was nothing more they could do.
Constant, severe pain forced Lizzy to rely on powerful medications like fentanyl and morphine. Exhausted, her body needed peace, and her care team shifted focus to making her final days as comfortable as possible.
“At first, we didn’t tell her she might die. We were holding on to hope,” Jennifer admits. “But as time went on, especially after the cancer returned, it became impossible to shield her from the truth.”
“They were seeing other families lose their children, and Lizzy saw it too. The reality was becoming clearer, even without words,” she adds. “She was incredibly intuitive. She knew.”
With just two weeks left, Lizzy’s family devoted themselves to making her comfortable and helping her say the goodbyes that mattered most.