Devastated parents began planning funeral after 10-year-old was given hours to live — then her 7-word wish changed everything

The girl was in hospice care and her grandparents had arrived to say their final goodbyes when things changed.

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(L) A funeral in preparation at funeral home. (R) A doctor checking up on a girl battling cancer. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | (L) Pavel Danilyuk ; (R) Tima Miroshnichenko)

At times, life surprises people when they have given up on all hope. A 10-year-old who was given 48 hours to live by her doctor understood it very well when she miraculously began recovering. Her parents had started making funeral arrangements for her, but then the girl surprised everyone with her special wish. Doctors couldn't explain the reason behind the girl's recovery, but it was a pleasant surprise for everyone around her, per ABC News.

A girl dressed as a flower girl for a wedding. Representative Image Source: Pexels | Poppy Martinez

The girl, Abby Furco, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia when she was only 4 years old. As a 10-year-old, she was given a day or two to live by her doctor, but then she bounced back from the brink of death and was determined to be the flower girl at her camp counselor's wedding 4 months later. She made it to the October wedding and played her role, walking before the bride and throwing flower petals on the aisle. Abby met camp counselor Sarah Swaim Rostock at Camp Fantastic, a camp run by the Special Love organization for kids fighting cancer, in 2013. Rostock was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2003 as well and formed a special bond with Abby after several interactions.

A woman and a girl smiling at each other. Representative Image Source: Pexels | Pixabay

When the camp counselor found out that Abby had relapsed, she reached out to her mom to offer support, as she had been through a relapse too. "I immediately found her mom on Facebook and reached out to her and said, 'I know the path that you’re about to walk down and I want to be there for Abby in any way that I can.'" The woman was there for Abby through thick and thin after that. But Abby's loved ones received devastating news in June of that year and she was given just 48 hours to live by her doctors. She was in hospice care and her grandparents flew in to say their final goodbyes, per PEOPLE. The parents had also started making funeral arrangements. But soon enough, there was a change. "She told us, 'I have so much living to do,'" the mom, Patty, recounted Abby's wish.

A man consoling a crying woman. Representative Image Source: Pexels | Pavel Danilyuk

Rostock was in shock, but she extended the invitation with the hope that it would give Abby a reason to go on, per ABC News. "When you’re [fighting] cancer ... you live day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. But sometimes looking towards the future can help propel you forward," Rostock pointed out. She asked Abby to be her flower girl after asking her mom for permission. She was glad that she could have Abby there with her eventually. Abby also helped her calm down when she was freaking out before walking down the aisle. "Sarah, get it together! You need to calm down!" the girl told her. Abby passed away in 2021 as a 15-year-old after a decade-long battle with cancer, per WTKR News 3.

She had a profound impact on her community, who called themselves "Team Abby" and were saddened after losing the teenager. She was about to have surgery for her failing heart, but had a stroke, according to the doctors. Rostock also dedicated a special song to the girl to express her feelings. One of her teachers kept her painting that read, "Never ever give up," in his classroom, for inspiration. The teacher, Erik Petermann, shared that the girl really taught him what a teacher could do and be. "In the darkest of times, there is always a little light at the end of the tunnel," Abby expressed in an old video.