It started with a runny nose. Days later, 14-year-old Andrea Sanchez found out she was battling cancer.
Her family received some financial help Saturday afternoon as members of the community rallied behind Sanchez with a fundraiser cookout to help with her medical expenses.
By selling hot dogs, loaded potatoes and chicken, they raised money for Sanchez outside the Hen House Market near 81st and Parallel.
Sanchez's mother, Esmeralda Gonzalez, said they took her to the doctor because Sanchez suffered a constant runny nose and allergy-like symptoms. That's when doctors realized it was more serious and ordered an emergency surgery to have an enlarged adenoid removed in late January 2016. About a week later, Sanchez was diagnosed with stage two lymphoma.
Sanchez is an eighth grader at Piper Middle School in Kansas City, Kansas.
If you would like to donate to help with her medical expenses, you can do so online.
----
