Childhood Cancer Warrior Spotlight: Audrey

Audrey Aileen is a spunky, adventurous 12-year-old from Cypress, Texas, with a big personality, a tender heart and some seriously BIG Texas dreams. At first glance, Audrey may take your breath away with her beauty, but if you have the privilege of knowing her, you quickly realize she is somehow even more beautiful on the inside. She is compassionate, thoughtful, fiercely loyal to her people and genuinely loves finding ways to make a difference.

In November 2024, Audrey was diagnosed with a rare Grade 3 brain tumor called anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (aPXA). She underwent brain surgery followed by six weeks of proton radiation and is now nearing the end of two years of targeted cancer treatment. Through surgeries, scans, appointments, medications and uncertainty, Audrey has continued to show up for her life, determined that cancer can take up space in her calendar, but it doesn’t get to become her entire story.

Before cancer, Audrey cheered and tumbled competitively for five years, spending countless hours in the gym doing something she absolutely loved. Treatment eventually meant having to step away, and that loss has been hard. But Audrey did what Audrey does, she found something new to dream about.

She fell in love with cattle.

These days, the cattle ring is her new runway. She traded her cheer shoes for boots and discovered a whole new place to work hard, compete and shine. Don’t let the boots and barn dirt fool you, though!! 

Audrey is still every bit a lady. She loves getting dressed up just as much as she loves getting dirty.

She’s a Texas girl through and through. Audrey LOVES country music and especially live music. Give her a good song, windows down, radio up and a silly hat turned sideways, and you’ll get a glimpse of Audrey at her happiest — singing too loud, laughing with her sisters and soaking up every second of being a kid.

Loves sports and collecting sports cards! 

While Audrey isn’t walking the runway at Ladies Who Brunch this year, she is so excited to be there supporting and cheering on her girls who are. That’s Audrey. She genuinely loves seeing the people she cares about shine, and she knows firsthand how much it means to have people standing beside you, cheering you on.

And when Audrey is feeling down, she dreams. She dreams about the life waiting for her beyond cancer — especially a big Texas family compound where she and her sisters can raise cattle and live out all of their adventures together. She and her sister Kinlie already plan to someday “own a shop” for all of their hobbies — shooting, four-wheelers, dirt bikes, boats, fishing poles, workout equipment and, obviously, a roping station.

Audrey is one of five siblings, and family is at the center of her world. But woven through every part of Audrey’s story is her love for Jesus. She believes God can use even the hardest parts of her life as a platform to show others His grace, mercy and miracles. Audrey loves opportunities to make a difference and hopes the story she never would have chosen can be used for a purpose much bigger than herself.

Cancer may be part of Audrey’s story, but it has never been the most interesting thing about her. She’s funny, outgoing, adventurous, a little sassy, incredibly compassionate and deeply loved. She’s a cattle-loving, country-music-blaring, adventure-chasing, beautifully feminine Texas girl with huge plans for her future and a heart that somehow manages to be even bigger.

Cancer has asked Audrey to grow up in ways no child should have to, but it hasn’t stopped her from dreaming like one. And through it all, she knows God is still writing her story. 🎗️🤍