# @NationwideChildrensChampionship on Facebook

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.facebook.com/1707609598033481/posts/1686209560173485
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/71244791-NationwideChildrensChampionship-facebook
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/708a26f725.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-17T14:48:28.000+00:00

## Caption

The best way to start the tournament! 🦋

#PatientChampion Reese Shirey took the 2026 First Shot to Fight Cancer this morning to officially tee off the 20th annual Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship!

Reese was just ten years old when her world changed. On February 15, 2019, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, beginning a two-and-a-half-year journey. The first 28 days of treatment brought intense chemotherapy and equally intense side effects. Early in her journey, Reese experienced bleeding in her brain, the wall of her gallbladder thickened, and a massive seizure that led to a code blue. In the aftermath, she developed Mucormycosis, a rare and aggressive fungal infection. Her care team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital acted immediately, calling for emergency surgery the next morning. Surgeons removed a third of her lung to save her life. Reese spent 53 days in the hospital during that initial phase of treatment. Throughout her journey, she endured numerous blood clots treated with twice-daily blood thinners, received 30 blood transfusions, and underwent many spinal taps. Despite every setback, she continued to fight with a resilience that inspired everyone around her. After completing her first phase of chemotherapy, Reese entered remission and transitioned into a year and a half of less-intense treatment. Slowly, she began to regain her strength. In June 2021, Reese rang the bell, marking the end of active treatment and the beginning of a new chapter.

This morning, Nationwide surprised Reese with a $10,000 college scholarship to support her future education.

Thank you Reese for inspiring us all 🩵

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 90
- **Shares:** 20
- **Comments:** 12

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kate Haugh | @klhaugh | https://gondola.cc/klhaugh | Social Media Manager |

## Tags

patientchampion

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