Harper Murphy: a local light that keeps shining
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Harper Murphy, a vibrant local 7-year-old, was diagnosed with stage 2 Wilms tumor, a form of kidney cancer, in August.
As a young child full of life and light, the diagnosis came as a shock. Harper recalls the moment she learned about her condition: “I got pretty nervous, and when they said I had to have surgery, I got really nervous.”
The news not only affected Harper but also left a lasting impact on her family. Her mother, Caitlin Murphy, explains, “It just was like anxiety in the pit of your stomach. Never in my life did I think that it was a tumor.”
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Harper’s spirit remained unbroken. With the unwavering support of her family and community, she was chosen by the Nashville Predators Hockey Team Foundation to be the Patient Ambassador for their Hockey Fights Cancer Night.
“For a surprise, I went down by myself. I felt really happy to be there. Dropping the puck was my favorite part,” Harper says of her special moment at the rink.
Harper’s story tugs on the hearts of many, including the Predators team, leaving them in tears. She didn’t leave empty-handed either.
“Roman Josi, he is my favorite player, and he wrote this message on here for me and people supporting me and stuff. That’s pretty much my favorite part,” Harper shares with a smile.
Caitlin Murphy reflects on the overwhelming kindness and support from their community, saying, “Through this, it has been such a blessing, because we live in such an amazing community. It’s just a Godsend.”
Harper’s courage continues to inspire, showing that even in the darkest moments, light can shine through.
Things are definitely looking up for Harper, who is officially cancer-free and will have her last chemo treatment on Dec. 31.
