Teen Athlete Battling Cancer: 'I just want to get back out there'

Karley Branch is in the fight of her life as she battles Ewing Sarcoma, a rare cancer found to develop more predominantly in the bone and tissue teenage girls.

She told KSDK the cancer was pushing on her spinal cord and it caused her to lose feeling in her legs. At the time, not only was Karley and avid softball player, she was also an active goalie on the freshman soccer team.

She told the Kirkwood Call, one morning she woke up with her legs tingling and she was unable to walk. Her parents rushed to the hospital, and an MRI found a tumor in her lower spine.

Karley said a surgery removed most of the tumor, but left her paralyzed below the waist. She also said doctors told her she'd never walk again. 

But she's taking the diagnosis step-by-step, literally. Chemo and physical therapy are helping Karley fight the cancer and she is mobile, using a walker to guide her steps. 

She is getting out more. Visiting her fast-pitch softball team, St. Louis Gamers, as they play and trying to live her life to the fullest. 

Her team has even rallied to help her family. Teammate Breanna Robbins started selling stickers with all the proceeds going to the Branch family. She said about 50 teams that have the stickers that say Karley's name and team number. (Play the video to view the stickers, which are applied on batting helmets.)

Two of Karley’s friends, Sarah and Lauren Huber, created an online donation page for anyone wanting to help the Branch family. Interested in donating? Click here.