LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Gabrielle Lowe, a local teen from Henderson, became a Formula 1 fan after watching last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. This year, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, she will be attending the race in person.
With her favorite driver being Charles Leclerc, she’ll get to see him navigate the turns up close this year.
“They’re going to house us in a hotel in Vegas, we get tickets to the Grand Prix stand. I don’t know where we will actually be sitting, but to be able to see the cars and the race, I’m going to be ecstatic the whole race,” Lowe said.
Lowe, a teenager with a part-time job and a passion for music, has faced a significant health battle. At 15, she began experiencing severe pain in her upper legs and lower back.
“Me and my parents thought it was growing pains and brushed it off,” Lowe said.
A biopsy confirmed that Lowe had been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, a type of cancer.
Once Lowe began chemotherapy treatment she needed constant observation. Lowe spent three weeks in the hospital followed by one week at home, a schedule that continued for nearly six months.
Throughout this challenging time, she remained in relatively good spirits. Her mom and dad took turns staying with her at the hospital, offering their love and strength to help her through each day.
“We’re just going to have to go into this, get it over with, and get back to living my life,” Lowe said. “Everybody seems to go through a change between middle school and high school where they become an adult. I really think, going through my chemotherapy did that for me. I’m more relaxed, I don’t get anxiety as often, it just makes me more positive.”