9-Year-Old Abingdon Cancer Survivor Gives Happiness to Others

Grace Callwood, a 9-year-old cancer survivor living in Abingdon, is delivering Easter baskets this week to homeless children, telling WBAL TV that regardless of how hurt or sad a person may feel: "...you can still make other people happy."

Callwood, who was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2011, had her last chemo treatment in February, according to the Facebook page for her newly formed service organization "We Cancerve." The idea grew out of her experience battling cancer.

Due to steroids she was taking for her condition, Callwood lost weight and couldn't fit into her brand-new school clothes, which she gave to elementary school girls living at Harford Family House, according to UMConnection.

The giving continued as she underwent treatments.

Each time she got a spinal tap, the room was filled with toys, and she accumulated so many, she wanted to give them to other children, according to ABC 2 News.

In February, she founded the organization "We Cancerve" and established its board of directors—all under the age of 18—to help others, particularly children who are sick, in foster care or homeless. On Tuesday, they delivered Easter baskets filled with candy to Harford Family House and on Wednesday, they will be taking them to the Arrow teenage group home in Bel Air and a group facility in Baltimore.

She's always been a giver, her mother told WBAL, even before being diagnosed with cancer—Callwood donated toys to Upper Chesapeake and food to the Maryland Food Bank at ages three and four, respectively.

This year, Callwood was the youngest person to receive the Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore's "Making a Difference Award," according to UMConnection, a newsletter of the United Methodist Church.

According to the newsletter, Callwood is a member of Ames United Methodist Church in Bel Air and attends William S. James Elementary School in Abingdon.

Find out more about Callwood on the We Cancerve website, which includes ways to help.