I made it to 24 which I did not think was going to happen.”

Carrigan Nelson

PORTSMOUTH — Sitting in a car parked at BankNewport with her boyfriend, Aidan McDonald, Carrigan Nelson had a perfect view of a rally in front of Clements’ Marketplace honoring her and other cancer warriors on Saturday.

“It’s truly such an honor,” said a tearful Carrigan, wearing nasal prongs to get additional oxygen. “The community has been so good to my family and I. I feel so supported and wrapped in love.”

Nelson was diagnosed in 2019 with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and has been fighting the disease ever since. The two-hour event Saturday — in which motorists honked their horns as they passed supporters waving signs — marked the first Carrigan Nelson Day in Portsmouth. Also known as Cancer Warrior Day, it will be celebrated every Feb. 8 — Nelson’s birthday — going forward. The Town Council last month unanimously approved a proclamation after a proposal by Chris Carceller, Nelson’s friend. 

Carceller started helping the Nelson family in May 2024, after entering a raffle benefitting what is now known as the Aquidneck Food Pantry on Sprague Street. “Fifteen minutes before they pulled the raffle, I decided to pray to God that if I won, I would donate it to Carrigan,” she said.

Carceller ended up winning an air conditioner. “Craig Clark of Ocean State Air worked with me. He said, ‘You don’t have to do anything. If you donate it back to me, I’ll give her $10,000.’ And that’s how it started,” Carceller said.

She then got together with Kristen Mercer, who formerly owned the business now known as Sunset Cove. “We ran a fund-raiser, and it just snowballed. I just love the Nelsons and Carrigan is such a hero and such a warrior. You can’t help but love her,” she said.

On Saturday, Carceller and her husband, Sal, were joined by numerous members of the Town Council: Vice President David Gleason, Mary McDowell, Sharlene Patton, and David Reise; along with three local members of the General Assembly: Rep. Terri Cortvriend, Sen. Linda Ujifusa, and Rep. Michelle McGaw. (The latter is the wife of this story’s author.) 

Nelson’s parents, Tammy and Paul, came by to thank supporters and share stories of the family’s journey over the past six years. Tammy said without the support of the local community — financially and emotionally — “We would have lost our home, we would have lost our daughter.”

She and her daughter are working on a book together, which they hope will be another source of inspiration for people battling cancer. Carrigan always finds ways to inspire and support others who are in the same boat as she, Tammy said. Her daughter, who has always been blessed with a fine singing voice, wants to go into music therapy, she said.

“But she’s already doing that since she sings to sick kids at Hasbro and elsewhere,” Tammy said. “She doesn’t publicize that.”

‘Happy birthday, Carrigan!’

Several supporters, led by Gleason, also sang “Happy Birthday” to Carrigan, who turned 24 on Saturday. (Later that night, the Sakonnet River Bridge would be lit up in gold in honor of Carrigan and other cancer warriors.) Cortvriend and Ujifusa also presented her with resolutions approved by the General Assembly. Carrigan could not attend the House session last Thursday when Cortvriend introduced the resolution, but shared written comments with lawmakers: 

“I have met many wonderful people in my six-year cancer journey,” she said. “I have connected with so many amazing souls and have tried to connect them to one another. I have been blessed with tremendous support and resources and I am grateful for all who are fighting alongside me. 

“I am also grateful to live in the wonderful town of Portsmouth in the smallest state with the biggest heart. My thoughtful and caring community and our beautiful state have lifted my family and I in our darkest times. Special thanks to all who have brought these resolutions to fruition. I am forever grateful for never fighting alone.”

‘Made it to 24’

Carrigan expounded on those thoughts on Saturday. 

“I’ve been fighting onward for six years and who knows whether this is going to be my last birthday; I’m deemed incurable now,” she said. “But, this has been the most special birthday ever, already. It’s going to happen every single year, which is really cool. I’ve really tried to build a legacy and help others and keep fighting and pushing forward. I’ve never let cancer define me; it’s a part of me, but it’s not who I am.”

Carrigan revealed that a month go, she was sent home to go on hospice because a phase-one clinical trial in which she participated did not work out.

“It looked like explosive growth, but it ended up just being inflammation. So now, I’m doing a different treatment and I’m no longer on hospice and I made it to 24 which I did not think was going to happen,” she said, as supporters whooped and hollered around her. 

Carceller beamed as she witnessed all the support for Carrigan.

“We do this just to give her a few minutes of joy,” she said. “She’s going through such a tough time right now.”

How to support Carrigan

There are numerous ways you can show your support to “cancer warrior” Carrigan Nelson:

• Donate to her GoFundMe page. 

• Join Carrigan and Strong Little Souls in supporting adolescents and young adults facing cancer by purchasing items from her Amazon wish list to help create care packages. 

• Purchase her merchandise and spread awareness. 

• Join this Facebook group: Carrigan Nelson Day ♫ Cancer Warrior Day ♥