Paityn is a bright, outgoing, and compassionate young woman who graduated in the top 17% of her class and earned a full-ride scholarship to The University of Mississippi. Just before starting her freshman year, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain. What was initially believed to be stress or a pulled muscle quickly turned into a devastating diagnosis.
Doctors discovered a 29 cm tumor on her left ovary and a 13 cm mass on her right, along with over six liters of fluid in her abdomen. After emergency surgery to remove the tumors, her left ovary, and fallopian tube, she fought through recovery and made it to college—only to be hit again just three weeks later. Another tumor, now 17 cm in size, had developed on her remaining ovary. Further surgery confirmed that Paityn had advanced ovarian cancer that had already begun to spread.
Despite everything, Paityn remains strong and hopeful as she undergoes chemotherapy and treatment through specialists at Singing River Cancer Center and Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans. Her battle has placed a heavy emotional and financial burden on her close-knit family, who are doing everything they can to support her.
In recognition of her strength, Paityn was awarded a Signature Grant in January 2025 to help offset the costs brought on by childhood cancer. She was also awarded a Family Fun Trip, which she used to create lasting memories in her beloved college town of Oxford, MS.
In a beautiful turn of events, Paityn’s second PET scan, taken midway through chemo, showed no evidence of disease. Her journey is far from over, but this incredible news brings hope and strength as Paityn continues to face each day with courage, love, and determination—never letting cancer define her journey.