On Thursday, Carson was joined by her family as she got a tour of the Chelmsford Police station after being presented with funds to support her family’s journey.
Cops for Kids with Cancer (CFKWC) is a non-profit organization that works with local law enforcement agencies to provide funds to families across New England who have children battling cancer.
While many organizations support cancer research, funds from CFKWC are not designated for any specific purpose. Families are welcome to use the funds to defray medical expenses or to help with the day-to-day costs that lengthy hospital stays and frequent visits incur.
Carson’s journey began in November 2024, when, at just 3 years old, an unexpected trip to the emergency room resulted in a life-changing diagnosis of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). What followed was a 37-day inpatient stay at Boston Children’s Hospital and the immediate start of an intensive treatment plan expected to span approximately two and a half years.
Throughout her battle, Carson has displayed extraordinary courage, resilience, and an unwavering spirit. Despite enduring numerous hospitalizations, chemotherapy treatments, invasive procedures, medications, and unforeseen medical setbacks, she continues to greet each day with a smile that inspires everyone around her. Her infectious personality, strength, and determination have become a source of hope not only for her family but for all who have come to know her story.
Her parents, Kacey Fitzgerald and Colin Doherty, of Tewksbury, have remained steadfast in supporting their daughter through every stage of treatment. Like countless families facing pediatric cancer, their daily lives now revolve around hospital visits, medical appointments, treatment schedules, and the uncertainty that accompanies every milestone in Carson’s recovery. Now more than halfway through her treatment, Carson continues to make encouraging progress. As she has grown older, she has become increasingly aware of the challenges cancer has brought into her life, asking difficult questions that no child should ever have to ask. Yet her family continues to surround her with love, hope, and encouragement, reminding her every day that she is stronger than the disease she faces.
The visit included a check, a tour of the station, a gift bag that included a teddy bear, and a chance for Carson to visit the Dispatch Center to make a radio call to an on-duty Chelmsford Police officer in the field. Attending were Cops for Kids with Cancer Board of Directors Member and Chelmsford Chief of Police Gary Hannagan, alongside Board of Directors Member and Chelmsford Special Traffic Officer Sal Mirabella Jr., and members of the Chelmsford Police Department.
While the emotional toll of childhood cancer is immeasurable, the financial burden can be equally overwhelming. Extended hospitalizations, ongoing medical care, travel to specialized treatment facilities, missed work, and countless unexpected expenses place tremendous strain on families already navigating unimaginable circumstances. The financial assistance provided by Cops for Kids with Cancer will help ease some of those burdens, allowing the Doherty family to focus on what matters most, Carson’s continued treatment, recovery, and well-being.
“No family should face childhood cancer alone. Carson’s courage, positivity, and determination have inspired everyone who has had the privilege of meeting her,” said Chief Gary Hannagan, Board Member of Cops for Kids with Cancer and Chief of the Chelmsford Police Department. “While we cannot take away the hardships this family has endured, we hope this donation helps ease some of the financial burden so they can continue focusing on Carson’s recovery. It is an honor for Cops for Kids with Cancer and the Chelmsford Police Department to stand beside the Doherty family during this journey.”
“Every child deserves the opportunity to simply be a kid, and unfortunately cancer changes that in an instant. Cops for Kids with Cancer exists because law enforcement officers across New England believe in supporting families during their most difficult moments,” said Sal Mirabella Jr., Board Member of Cops for Kids with Cancer and Chelmsford Special Traffic Officer. “Seeing the strength Carson and her family demonstrate every day reminds us exactly why this organization’s mission is so important. We are proud to support them and hope this gift provides comfort and encouragement as Carson continues her fight.”
Carson celebrated her fifth birthday on July 7, and is expected to complete chemotherapy in December 2026; a milestone her family hopes will be the greatest Christmas gift they could ever receive.
Anyone aware of a local family with a child diagnosed with cancer who may benefit from support is encouraged to contact Chief Hannagan at: ghannagan@chelmsfordma.gov.